AGRICULTURE Archives - Page 3 of 5

FG approves 50% subsidy on agric. inputs amid food inflation

November 25, 2023November 25, 2023 Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has endorsed a 50% reduction in the cost of agricultural inputs in preparation for the commencement of dry season farming starting from November 25, 2023. This announcement came through a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which indicated that the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, will lead the launch ceremony in Jigawa State. The event aims not only to kick-start dry season farming but also to facilitate the distribution of vital resources like seedlings, herbicides, pesticides, and more. This initiative spans across the…

�We must develop our agric sector to self-sufficiency�, VP Shettima tells Governors

November 24, 2023November 24, 2023 Aminu Imam

Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has implored Governors of the 36 States of the federation to work towards revamping Nigeria’s agricultural sector with a view to reducing dependence on food imports and attaining greater food self-sufficiency. This, he noted, resonates well with the investments and commitment of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to establishing Specialised Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) in the country. Sen. Shettima gave the charge yesterday, during the 137th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. While delivering his opening address…

Agro-Industrial Programme: Security-embattled North-West Govs. head to Abidjan, to meet AfDB president

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 Aminu Imam

Seven State governors from the North-West geo-political zone are set to embark on a journey to Abidjan, C�te d�Ivoire, in a bid to harness the potential of the Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme. A statement released by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Idris, yesterday, noted that the State Governors will be going to Abidjan to explore the opportunities offered by the Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme. The State governors are expected to have departed Nigeria yesterday. Idris also stated that the governors are scheduled to meet with the President of the…

Food Security: Wheat seeds arrive Nigeria ahead of dry season farming

November 9, 2023November 9, 2023 Aminu Imam

Hybrid wheat seeds ordered by the PresidentTinubu-led administration have arrived at the Nigerian port in Lagos. Recall that the President declared a state of emergency on food security in the country and made agriculture and food security the number one priority of his �Renewed Hope� administration. Acting on this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security outlined the procedures and processes for the dry season wheat farming. The Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security were at the venue inspecting the imported seeds. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator…

Youth Unemployment: Milk Value Foundation, ECOWAS partner to tackle menace in Kaduna

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023 Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

As the advocacy for job creation gets louder, Milk Value Chain Foundation in partnership�with Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS is out to implement the�enhancement of youth employment project aimed at addressing youth�unemployment in Kaduna State. The project particularly aimed the pastoral communities of Luumo Kosam and Damau Grazing village milk producer cooperatives in Chikun and Kubau Local Governments. The Chief Executive Officer of Milk Value Chain Dr. Ishaq Bello said this at an inception workshop organized by the Foundation to sensitize the public on the project Wednesday in Kaduna.…

Kaduna: Ginger pandemic wipes out N10bn farmlands in 7 LGAs�

September 25, 2023September 25, 2023 Aminu Imam

� Nigeria�s 4th position as the world�s ginger producer threatened No fewer than seven local government councils of Kaduna State affected by an outbreak of fungi pathogens infection that wiped out N10 billion worth of ginger, covering 2,500 hectares of farm land in seven local government councils of Kaduna State, threatening Nigeria�s fourth position as the world�s ginger producer. An assessment tour of ginger farms in some affected local government councils over the weekend by the Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC), Dr. Ezra…

Food Insecurity: ‘Biting hunger resulting from low-crop yield leading to mortality in North’ – Stakeholders

September 24, 2023September 24, 2023 Aminu Imam

Across Nigeria, in spite of the advent of rainy season which led to heavy rainfall, the annual seasonal farming in northern Nigeria, stakeholders have raised alarm that biting hunger resulting from low crop yield is leading to mortality in the North, resulting in food insecurity in the region. Lamenting the situation to newsmen, a father of five, �Malam� Garba, (not his real name), from an Adamawa community, said he lost his first daughter, A’isha, as a result of hunger resulting from low crop yield. At the burial ground, when Aisha…

‘Nigeria�s agricultural revolution created over 13m jobs in seven years’ – President Buhari

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Washington D.C said Nigeria�s agricultural revolution has led to the creation of over 13million direct and indirect jobs in the last seven and half-years. The President disclosed this at an interactive session, titled: �A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria��, co-hosted by the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The Nigerian leader used the occasion to once again advise western nations not to be in a rush…

Agric sector yet to reach potential despite CBN�s N1tr – NBS�

November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 Aminu Imam

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed that the agricultural sector continues to struggle despite the massive intervention in the sector. According to NBS latest GDP report, the agriculture sector grew by only 1.3% in real terms, during the third quarter of 2022. Although this is an increase of 0.12% points from the corresponding period of 2021, and an increase of 0.14% points from the second quarter, the expectations for the sector remains a far cry from expectation. The agricultural activities measured by the NBS include crop production, livestock,…

H/Reps probe Agric Ministry for spending N18.9bn on ‘ghost bush’ clearing during Covid-19 lockdown�

August 18, 2022August 18, 2022 Aminu Imam

The Public Account Committee of the House of Representatives Committee (PAC), has invited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to give an account of how the ministry spent N18.9 billion on bush clearing, land-preparation among others during the Covid-19 lockdown. The chairman for the committee, Wole Oke, made this call, demanding that the Ministry of Agriculture show the places they claimed to have cleared. According to him, �During the lockdown of the country as a result of COVID-19, some companies took contracts worth about N18 billion for bush…