Business
Rice Production Grant: Nigeria, Three Others To Benefit
Four African countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Tanzania are to benefit from the $3.3 million grant provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the German Development Cooperation (BMZ) under their competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) project.
The implementing institutions of the grant are led by GIZ, Technserve, the John A. Kufuor (JAK) and Kili Trust (KT).
The project which will end in 2017 is targeting about 120,000 small scale rice producers, while secondary beneficiaries are the rural service providers and rice millers.
The initiative is geared towards improving their sourcing capacity of quality supply. Speaking on the establishment of the Nigeria/ECOWAS Rice Sector Policy and Regulation Advocacy Platform in Abuja, CARI’s project coordinator, Mr. Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, stated that the main instrument for the implementation of CARI across the four countries on the matching grant will be on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Kachel-Mathhess said the projects would be implemented at two levels of support, adding that CARI’s support was up to 40 per cent of implementation cost.
He said CARI’s Nigerian partners in the private sector would provide 60 per cent of the implementation cost.
He said CARI’s Nigerian partners in the private sector would provide 60 per cent of the implementation cost.
In her remark, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, who was represented by Mrs. Jael Kpatuwak expressed the hope that the CARI project would address coordination failures. She expressed that the process would create better linkages among rice value chain actors the results of which she said would lead to increase in economic returns for all stakeholders.
According to her, the sector holds the key to getting Nigeria out of poverty as it provides food security, employment for the teeming population and creating the platform for a diversified economy towards an industrial revolution.
Also speaking at the event, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Lapodini Marc Atouga, represented by a Director at the commission, said rice consumption in the last two years in the sub-region had increased from 7 to 7.7 million tons.
He pointed out that this was an indication that production was not matching up with consumption as it has to depend on international imports for 40 per cent of its rice supply with Thailand and Vietnam as the leading suppliers of the commodity to the region.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
Business
NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years
Business
FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year
-
Maritime3 days ago
Minister Tasks Academy On Thorough-Bred Professionals
-
Maritime3 days ago
Customs Cautions On Delayed Clearance, Says Consignees May Lose Cargo
-
Maritime3 days ago
NCS Sensitises Stakeholders On Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance System
-
Maritime3 days ago
Lagos Ready For International Boat Race–LASWA
-
Maritime3 days ago
Shoprite Nigeria Gets New Funding to Boost Growth, Retail Turnaround
-
Politics3 days ago
I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo
-
Sports3 days ago
Bournemouth, Newcastle Share Points
-
Sports3 days ago
Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria