Agriculture

Agric Stakeholders Set Agenda For Jonathan

Published

15 years ago

June 22, 2011

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector, have stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that a capable person is appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the new dispensation.

The stakeholders made the call in Abuja as part of on-going agenda initiatives by various sectors for Jonathan as he prepares to appoint a new cabinet.

In an interview with newsmen, the Vice President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Ike Ubaka, said that the sector required a minister who would work to ensure that agriculture served as a catalyst to drive the economy of the country.

He said that it was time for Nigeria to strive for higher results given the huge amount that had been invested in the sector.

He suggested that the president must focus more attention on the implementation of agricultural policies and programmes.

Ubaka said that the incoming minister must also be ready to address the challenges of low yields, value addition, storage capacity, processing and marketing, among others.

The nation’s agriculture potential, if well harnessed, could lead to accelerated growth of the economy and job creation, he said.

Ubaka said that the new minister must set targets on the minimum level of growth to be achieved before the end of this administration.

This could be done by embarking on a serious of intervention programmes to boost production of some selected agricultural communities with export potential.

He further advised that the incoming minister must be ready to work with AFAN as the umbrella body of all farmers in Nigeria.

In contribution, Dr Victor Okoh of DFID PROPCOM said that the incoming minister should realize that agricultural development could only be operationalised through sector policies, strategies and plans.

Okoh stressed that without sound policies and implementable strategies, government would not be able to translate its vision into concentrate programme.

He said that a lot still needed to be done in the rural areas through adequate provision of infrastructure and inputs, especially fertilizer.

He expressed regret that in spite of the role of the rural populace in agriculture and food production, they still faced many constraints.

Okoh identified food sufficiency as the only solution to the food insecurity, adding that the only way to achieve it was through adequate investment in agricultural development.

He said focus should be on liberalising the fertilizer sector and creating room for fair play as a way to redress the adverse effect of is distribution in the country.

“Government must partner with relevant organizations especially PROPCOM/DFID and IFAD and various governments towards achieving the desired goals and objectives,” he said.

Mrs Amina Bala-Jibrin, the President, Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN) claimed that previous administrations were not sensitive to the plight of small-scale farms.

Attention was instead on commercial farmers by making funds available to time.

This situation, she described as unfortunate, stressing that while small-holder farmers produced to feed the nation commercial farmers sold their produce to multinational companies.

Bala-Jibrin also noted that more than 79 per cent of farmers in the rural areas had no access to basic infrastructure.

She advised that the incoming minister should ensure the implementation of the 2001 National Integrated Rural Development Policy, to lay a solid foundation for national development.

Bala-Jibrin also spoke of need to ensure proper funding of agriculture and the grouping of farmers into co-operatives to enable them to have independent source of funding.

Dr Ayoola Oduntan, the chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria, South West chapter, said the new minister must be visionary.

Oduntan said the appointee must recognise the challenges in every section of the ministry and be ready to proffer solutions to them.

Comrade Ahmed Bungudumni, the National President, Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria, said his union was expecting a minister who must be ready for field work, stressing that agriculture was not an office work.

He noted that the challenges in the sector were enormous and as such needed someone who was so many initiatives that would have stabilised the sector.

Agriculture

KWASANGLaunches Cassava Processing Factory To Boost Value Chain In Kwara

Published

1 month ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Kwara State Government has inaugurated the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in UK (KWASANG) APEX CO-OP Cassava Value-Addition Factory in Osin Pakate, Ilorin East Local Government Area, to boost cassava value addition and agro-processing in the State.

Speaking at the event, Alabi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Afees Abolore Alabi, described the initiative as a cooperative-led programme that aligns with the State’s agricultural development priorities.

He noted with satisfaction that the project demonstrates how farmer organisations, supported by the right policies and partnerships, can drive sustainable agribusiness growth.

Alabi explained that cassava value addition plays a critical role in reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality, and increasing farmers’ incomes, while also creating employment opportunities for youths and women.

He added that initiatives such as the KWASANG factory contribute to food security, supply of industrial raw materials, and rural economic development.

Alabi acknowledged the partnership of the leadership of KWASANG with diaspora partners, describing their collective investment as a strong signal of confidence in cassava production and processing opportunities within the state.

The Commissioner further noted that cooperative organisation remains a key pillar in the Government’s approach to inclusive agricultural development.

Alabi stated that the role of the Kwara State Government is to provide an enabling environment through supportive policies, infrastructure development, capacity building, and strategic collaboration with cooperatives and the private sector.

He added that the progress being recorded across the cassava value chain reflects the development direction of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whose administration continues to prioritise agricultural transformation through strategic partnerships and investor-friendly policies.

The factory, according to the Commissioner, is expected to process cassava into products such as Gari, high-quality cassava flour, starch, and other value-added derivatives for household consumption and industrial use.

Alabi stated “The initiative also complements ongoing efforts to strengthen the cassava value chain through improved access to inputs, extension support, and market linkages aimed at increasing productivity and profitability for farmers across the State”.

Earlier, the Chairman of KWASANG Farmers, Mustapha Tunde Salawu, appreciated the Kwara State Government for creating a supportive environment that made the project possible.

He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly Kwarans, to look back home and invest as a way of contributing to the development of their communities, Kwara State, and the country at large.

Salawu noted that Kwara State’s vast arable farmland and its strategic location as a gateway between the northern and southern parts of the country made it a highly attractive destination for agricultural and agribusiness investment.

“The KWASANG APEX CO-OP Cassava Value-Adding Factory, is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access for cassava farmers, and stimulate economic activities within Osin Pakate and surrounding communities”, he said.

Agriculture

Livestock Ministry Empowers Women, Youths For Sustainable Growth

Published

1 month ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and youths as key drivers of a sustainable, innovative, and competitive livestock sector in Nigeria.

The Director, Technical, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Peter Alike, stated this at a Capacity Building Workshop for Women and Youths in the Livestock Value Chain, held in Abuja from Monday, 29th – Tuesday 30th December, 2025.

Alike emphasised that integrating sustainability and innovation across the entire livestock value chain, from feed production and animal husbandry to processing and marketing, is critical to transforming the sector and unlocking its economic potential.

He noted that building the capacity of women and youths remains central to the Ministry’s mandate to reposition livestock as a viable contributor to food security, employment, and national growth.

According to him, the capacity-building initiative is designed as a continuous and transformative programme, equipping participants with practical, hands-on skills that can be directly applied to their farms and enterprises.

He stressed that the training goes beyond theory, focusing on actionable knowledge, mindset change, and long-term competency development to promote sustainable livestock practices.

Alike further explained that the strategic importance of women and youths informed their inclusion as a priority group within the ten pillars of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), the Ministry’s flagship framework for sectoral reform.

In his presentation, an Animal Scientist, Ifeanyi Harry Njoagwuani, described sustainability as a continuous journey driven by science and effective management highlighting the adoption of climate-resilient breeds, improved genetics, precision nutrition through optimized feed formulations, and climate-smart housing systems as critical pathways to sustainable livestock production.

Speaking during a session on biogas production for sustainable livestock development, Ayoade Akande, underscored the need to strengthen extension services and promote private sector investment in modern feed technologies.

He advocated for expanded forage seed distribution networks, support for research and innovation hubs, and enabling policies that promote sustainable ruminant nutrition.

In his closing remarks, the Director of Livestock Extension and Business Development, Joseph Ako Eleojo, urged participants to form cooperative alliances and serve as advocates for change within their communities.

He noted that women and youths were deliberately targeted for the programme due to their strategic role in driving innovation, productivity, and sustainability in the livestock sector.

A major highlight of the two-day workshop was a study visit to De-Dre Solution Poultry Farm, located at Pasali 2, Kuje Area Council of the FCT. The farm, with a capacity of 24,800 birds, produces approximately 650 crates of eggs daily, providing participants with practical insights into efficient and sustainable poultry operations.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from poultry and ruminant farming enterprises across several states of the Federation.

Agriculture

FG, Ogun Distribute Inputs To 2,400 Farmers

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2024

The Tide

Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.