Connect with us

Agriculture

Eurobase Partners Foreign Coys For Improved Agric Mechanisation 

Published

2 years ago

on

The Chairman of Eurobase Consult Limited, Don Ekesiobi, has said  his company is partnering 10 foreign companies to supply affordable farm mechanisation to boost food production in the country.
Addressing members of the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), Ekesiobi noted that agribusiness should not be left to the government alone, but an enabling environment and some form of subsidy should be provided by the government for food affordability.
He said, “In order to boost sustainable agro production and food security, we carefully selected 10 among our foreign partners with good global impactful track record that can propel the development of Nigerian agricultural business sector.
“They have contributed in executing agro projects in different western and Asian countries that are self-sufficient in food production and have high volume of exported agro produce.
“We are bringing them to Nigeria to replicate same multi-billion Dollar agro business . We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to achieve this objective.
“Agricultural business is not just the business of government, although government is expected to create enabling environment and some forms of subsidy for food to be affordable to the poor.
“And that is why as a private organization when Mr President declared emergency on food security in Nigeria, which is in line with his eight-point agenda, we strategically aligned our programmes and policies in achieving the set objective, which will not only make food available, affordable and accessible, but create jobs and reduce poverty among women and youths through Agro mechanisation and food processing.
“Through strategic business partnership with developed partners, NGOs, farmers and commodities association, government agencies and individuals, we will capture food insecurity in Nigeria through sustainable farming practices that’s climate smart, value/nutritional driven and can satisfy the need of Nigerian people and the demand of international market.
“With our population as a nation, the level of innovation our group is bringing in farming will revolutionize or transform agro sector real time.
“If we engage intentionally within the agro value chain we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, wealth and foreign exchange and at the same time end hunger which is the focal point of Mr. President but we have to be intentional and collaborative”.
He, however, disclosed that there will be a special Agro Equipment and Technology Expo Coming up on 16th and 17th April 2024, at NAF Conference Center Abuja”.
Ekesiobi further stated that the high import tariffs charged by the Federal Government on agro-equipment negate the food security agenda of the government.
He urged the Federal Government to review the high import tariffs on agro-equipment downwards to enable Nigerian farmers to afford them in order to boost food production in the country.
“Nigeria pays the highest import duty or tariff in the world on agro-equipment.
“My appeal to the government is that as Mr. President has declared a state of emergency on food security, he should remove import tariffs on agro-equipment at least for some time to enable Nigeria to balance very well in the quest for food security.
“The Federal Government should also make it easier for the clearance of these equipment. If government insists on collection of high import tariffs, the objective of achieving food security will not be realised.
“Agro-equipment takes high volume of space. If we ship three tractors, which are in one container, what the clearing agents are charging now is N15 million.
“This was the same agro-equipment we were paying N3 million for about three years ago. After the clearing, who will buy it at this high cost?
“The government should immediately make zero import duty on agro-equipment to enable Nigeria to attain food security. The earlier the  government does it, the better for everybody”, he stated.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Agriculture

KWASANGLaunches Cassava Processing Factory To Boost Value Chain In Kwara

Published

1 week ago

on

January 2, 2026

By

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.
Continue Reading

Agriculture

Livestock Ministry Empowers Women, Youths For Sustainable Growth

Published

1 week ago

on

January 2, 2026

By

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.
Continue Reading

Agriculture

FG, Ogun Distribute Inputs To 2,400 Farmers

Published

1 year ago

on

October 4, 2024

By

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.

Continue Reading

Trending