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.

Nigeria: Herdsmen Must Be Disarmed Immediately - Ogbe

There is tension in many parts of the country over the rampaging herdsmen who have killed several thousand innocent Nigerians, raped and kidnapped others. They attack their victims in farms, homes, and along the way.

In this interview, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, said the herdsmen must be disarmed, immediately. He said that the federal government has already 5, 000 hectares of land in nine states for ranching to stop cows from moving from place to place.

He also spoke on other issues affecting the sector and why the nation must stop food importation. Excerpts:

Nigeria: Emefiele's Devt Focus Wheat Production, Wheat Production

Recently, the Governor of the Central Bank Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh were in Kebbi State to inspect wheat and rice farms under the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Led by the Governor of Kebbi, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Mr. Emefiele and the team carried an on-site assessment tour of some the large farms operated by the over 70,000 farmers being encouraged under the program.

Agriculture Suffered 40 Years Of Neglect – Ogbeh

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu  Ogbeh, has tasked heads of agencies under the supervision  of the ministry to settle down quickly to work because activities in the agricultural sector would commence with full speed immediately the ministry’s budget is released.

This is even as he lamented that issues related to agriculture had been left 40 years behind.

AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA SET TO GO SMARTER

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is agricultural practices that improves productivity, resilience and adaptation, as well as contribute towards reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Climate Smart Agriculture could lead to overall increase in food production and food security. It brings novelty to the already existing agricultural known practices as a result of change in climate.

Bill for Food Security passes second reading

A Bill for Food Security in Nigeria which was sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (PDP), Abia Central Senatorial District has passed second reading at Tuesday’s plenary.

In his lead debate, Orji submitted that Nigeria was one of the few countries of the World that had no legal

INTL FCStone Inc. Seminar on Commodity Price Risk Management in Nigeria to be opened by the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission

INTL FCStone Inc. (NASDAQ:INTL) (https://www.INTLFCStone.com), a leader in the development of specialized financial services in commodities, securities, global payments, foreign exchange and other markets, today announced that Mr. Mounir Gwazo, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Nigeria will deliver the keynote address at the Commodity Trading and Risk Management Seminar on April 19-20, 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria. The seminar is being run by its London-based subsidiary, INTL FCStone Ltd, in partnership with AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited (AFEX).

SON, EU Collaborate To Standardise Nigerian Produce For Export

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the European Union (EU) have begun an initiative to establish a code of practice for Nigerian Agricultural products for exportation.

The information is contained in a statement jointly signed by Mrs Chinyere Egwuonwu, Deputy Director, Standards Directorate, SON, and Mrs Irina Kireeva of EU.

Agriculture Sector: Nigerians, Investors Await Year Of Dividend

To see an image of what a sector looks like in the economy, visit the capital market. This is what informed LEADERSHIP’s visit to the capital market which showed that the agriculture sector is hardly profitable for now and without any form of dividend.

For quoted companies like Livestock Feeds Plc, profit dwindled in 2015 from N402.15 billion in 2014 to N300.115 billion in 2015, and of course no dividend was paid. For Okomu Oil Plc, although profits rose from N1.90 billion in 2014 to N2.9 billion in 2015, the shareholders of the company went home downcast.

How hill country can be profitable and resilient

It seems that we have lost sight of what a good clover-based pasture looks like and have forgotten the skills to grow and manage it, says Doug Edmeades.
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 High-performing hill country farmers love fertiliser.
Cameron Burnell
High-performing hill country farmers love fertiliser.


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