Tambuwal’s Agenda for Food Sufficiency

The Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is clear-headed about the direction he wants to take his state with agriculture and education as major pivots. Olusegun Adeniyi, who recently visited Sokoto and spoke extensively with the governor, reports on how the state is embarking on an agricultural revolution both for the empowerment of the people and for revenue generation

Reps Summon Agric Minister Over GMOs

Nigerians have raised concerns over the importation of genetically modified foods into the country. In response to this,

UN agency boosts support in Lake Chad Basin to safeguard agricultural livelihoods

New York, June 23 :The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday it is providing agricultural and livelihood assistance to affected host communities and displaced people in the Lake Chad Basin as a result of massive population displacements and insecurity that are putting livelihoods and food security at high risk.

Don’t pay to access agric loans – FG tells farmers

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on Saturday cautioned Nigerian farmers and associations not to pay any money to persons or group for the purpose of accessing agricultural loans.

The advice came against the backdrop of reports which quoted the APC Secretary (Bayelsa State) as alleging that fraudsters had duped unsuspecting members of the public of various sums of money with the promise to help them obtain loans from the FMARD.

Flour millers to buy homegrown wheat

Flour millers in Nigeria have agreed to buy made-in Nigeria wheat to boost its local production.

The agreement was reached during a brief ceremony, which was held in the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja where the Flour Millers Association of Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria.

FG, NSIA signs MoU for commercialised agriculture

The Federal Government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), to explore investment opportunities in commercialised agriculture to boost food production in the country.

Nigeria: Bayelsa APC to Members - Don't Fall Victims of Fake Agric Loan

The Bayelsa state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned its members against falling victims of fraudsters asking people to pay certain amount of money to enable them access loan from the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development.

TOMATO EBOLA: NIGERIA IS CURRENTLY IN A ‘TOMATO’ STATE OF EMERGENCY

 Ventures Africa reported that the real reason for the scarcity of tomatoes is a Tuta absoluta plague.

On Monday, the Kaduna state government declared a state of emergency on tomato farming in the state as a result of destructive pests. This comes a week after

World Bank rates African Centres of Excellence in Nigeria high

The World Bank has scored the African Centres of Excellence (ACEs) domiciled in Nigerian universities high in terms of living up to their mandates.

World Bank’s Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the centres had performed creditably in terms of response to regional challenges.

Staple crop processing zones will contribute N1.4 trillion to economy

The planned establishment of Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZ) in the country, will add N660 billion to N1.4 trillion to the Nigerian economy and create 250,000 jobs, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

FG, Tuns Farms sign N25 billion pact on egg production

THE Federal Government and Tuns Farms Limited, yesterday, signed a N25 billion Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on National Egg Production Scheme (NEGPRO). The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh,

Nigeria: Govt, States Spend 1.6% on Agriculture

Less than two percent of the N12.2 trillion total budgets of the federal and state governments will be spent on agriculture this year, Daily Trust investigations have shown.

This is happening at a time of the government's much trumpeted determination to move away from oil to agriculture as the mainstay of the economy.

Nigeria: Chinese Firm Launches Agriculture Training in Nigeria

Abuja — A Chinese multinational group of companies CGC on Monday kicked off capacity building organized for Nigerian agricultural technicians, an effort aimed at promoting integrated agricultural technology in the West African country.

The five-day training program, sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, was, according to organizers,

We have kept our promise of job creation – FG

The Federal Government has said that it has kept its words by commencing job creation across the country in fulfilment of its campaign promises.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the federal government has kept its promise of providing jobs for teaming Nigerian youths.

The minister made the comment Yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at the South-South Town Hall Meeting organised by his ministry.

Tuns Farms, Agric Ministry Signs N25bn NEGPRO Pact

Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited yesterday, signed a N25 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on the National Egg Production Scheme (NEGPRO)  to be financed by the Bank of Industry (BoI).

Asiwaju Musulmi of Yorubaland and the chairman of Tuns Farm Nigeria Limited, Chief Tunde Badmos, said, “The MoU is aimed at creating one million jobs and providing 50 million eggs on a daily basis by the year 2018.”

Amid complaints, Nigerian govt says experts assessing ‘genetically modified crops’ decision

The Nigerian government Monday sought to clear the air on the ongoing controversy over the introduction of genetically modified organisms into the country.

Shehu Ahmed, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the government would soon make a statement on the complaints made by Nigerians on the use of GMOs.

Local farmers can tap from N800bn poultry industry

POULTRY farming has become one of the biggest components of Nigeria’s agriculture with abundant social and economic poten­tials, which contributes 25 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Poultry farming, which consists the rearing of tur­keys, chickens, quails, ducks, pigeons, peacocks, guinea fowls, cows, goats, snails, and sheep now worth over N800 billion in Nigeria, al­though the sector is being projected to reach N1 tril­lion before the end of 2016.

FG Leverages Road Construction To Create Jobs

Segun Adeyemi, Uyo: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday at the South-South Town Hall Meeting organised by his ministry.

“As contractors are mobilized back to the various road construction projects across the country, construction and ancillary workers are returning to work in droves,” he said

Cassava farmers can get 50 tonnes per hectare – FECA

In the bid to expedite agricultural revolution in Nigeria, the Provost of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr. Adeola Odedina, has said that cassava farmers in the country could yield 50 to 60 tonnes per hectare in their plantation to maximise their profit.

Odedina, who stated this in Akure during the Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II

Outrage as biosafety agency approves Monsanto’s GMO maize, cotton

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has begun moves to introduce Genetically Modified (GMO) cotton and maize into the country’s foods and farming system.This runs contrary to assurances by the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril that “Nigeria would not mortgage the safety of its citizens by introducing unproven products into the country” and opposition from other stakeholders.Already, it was learnt that

Food crisis looms as diseases, insurgency, plague farmers

Government Area of Benue State by Fu­lani herdsmen early this year, Ndayakoh Ahmadu Alechenu, was one of the leading farmers in his community. Working with his three wives and 14 children over the years, he has been able to build a five-bedroom bungalow in his native home of Agatu where he lived with his family. Before the tragedy that befell him came, five of his children have also passed out of secondary school, while Ahmedu his second son and Aminatu, the third daughter, graduated from the university last year.

FADAMA: World Bank disburses $39m to farmers

The World Bank has so far disbursed a sum of $39m on the Third National Fadama Development Project Additional Financing (AF) as part of concerted efforts to support Nigeria’s agriculture and revenue diversification drive of the Federal Government

The Bank, in statement by its Task Team Leader, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, said it commenced its Fadama Implementation Support Mission at the weekend  across eight states in conjunction with the Federal Ministries of Finance and Agriculture.