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.

Palm oil pushes global food prices up in April; cereal production outlook improves – UN

5 May 2016 – Global prices of key staple food commodities rose in April, marking a third consecutive monthly increase after four years of decline, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 151.8 points in April, a 0.7 per cent increase from March. That is about 10 per cent below its level of a year ago and more than a third off its 2011 highs.

New season production prospects improve, stocks to remain high - FAO

FAO’s current forecast for world cereal production in 2016 stands at nearly 2 526 million tonnes, virtually unchanged from 2015 and fractionally above the volume predicted in April. The monthly revision resulted almost entirely from improved prospects for wheat production, now anticipated to hover around 717 million tonnes in 2016, that is 4 million tonnes higher than foreseen last month, but still 2.2 percent (16 million tonnes) below the 2015 record. The month-on-month upward revision of global wheat production mainly reflects an improved outlook in Europe, where favourable winter weather bolstered yield expectations in the EU, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Increases in these countries

Lagos set to increase food production by 25%

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Toyin Suarau has reiterated the resolve of the State government to increase the aggregate food supply of the State from less than 15% to 25% within the next four years through various projects and programmes.

Suarau who disclosed this while giving account of achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture at a press briefing to commemorate the first year in office of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration in Lagos noted that the aggregate food supply internally is less than 15% of total food consumption but added that the State is poised to increase this to 25% within the next four years.