Nigeria's Agriculture News|Discussions

Nigeria has secured a

7.8 million dollars credit from International Donors, for the implementation of the National Programme on the Reduction of Emmission from Deforestation and Degradation ( REDD) plus programme.

The programme is an initiative by the United Nations for the protection forests against destructions across the world.

The programme popularly known as cop 15 was initiated by the United Nations in 2009 at Copenhagen Denmark.

The Agreement was signed by Nigeria in 2012 and Cross River State was designated as pilot state, and in 2015, the programme was scale up in Nigeria with the addition of Ondo and Nassarawa States.

The project coordinator for Ondo State, Mr John Akinnuba told The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, that the money was second between 2012 and 2016.

Mr Akinnuba specified that four million dollars was secured in 2012 for the implementation of the pilot programme in Cross River State while this year, 3.8 million dollars was granted to the Govenrment to scale up the project in Nassarawa and Ondo States.

According to him, the first phase of the programmes involves building institutional structures and putting of framework, while second phase will involve piloting, field survey and technological mapping, while phase three involves data gathering and analysis and the establishment of reference emission level which is the basis for the payment of carbon credit.

“The Redd plus is a programme of action to mitigate climate change by payments and compensations to governments and communities that protect the forests in forms of credit from carbon generated from the protected forests” he said.

According to him, since carbon dioxide is the major component coursing global warming, the progrmame will ensure that the carbon generated from the forest can be captured, measured and sold in the carbon market, stressing that by so doing. Forest communities will be given livelihood support. Mr Akinnuba said that Nigeria stands to benefit maximally from the programme as its forest resources would be preserved, while employment will be reduced through the unempowerment of communities.

The Environmentalist stressed the need for governments of the Niger Delta States to queue into the programme with the view to protecting its forests and biodiversities from destruction.

Source

Cocoa needs to be technologically driven – Riman





Sayina Riman, National President of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called on the Federal Government to actively engage with stakeholders in the industry so as to ensure that cocoa is technologically driven.

He said presently cocoa is not technologically driven, thereby calling for more fund for investment in research and development.

He further said if this is done it would enable cocoa to earn Nigeria the highest foreign exchange after oil.

“This is a new regime and we want to see the active engagement with stakeholders. They need to get active engagement with stakeholders. Cocoa is not technologically driven, fund must be released to support research and development.

“All hands must be on deck to be able to produce cocoa to earn Nigeria the highest foreign exchange after oil,” he added.

Riman added that there has been a very low window for research and development, stressing that there is need for continuous research, as research does not end in the board room.

Speaking on incentives for farmers he said in the past there have been certain intervention but it hardly gets to the right farmers.

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“In time past, there have always been certain interventions, we hear it in the newspapers and the farmers hardly get it. Government has to engage the farmers themselves discuss with stakeholders, get the farmers point of view to move the sector forward.

“Engage with the stakeholders make sure that the input and subsidy you give reach the true farmers not the Abuja or Lagos or government office holder farmers, with this approach there will be sustainable cocoa growth in Nigeria,” he added.

His view on cocoa policy he said, “We have the best policy in the shelf, there have been cocoa policy but there has been little or no implementation. The policy is there we see it on the pages of newspapers,” he said.

However, he said the outlook for cocoa yield in the recently ended farming season is poor due to drought for most part of the season.

“The cocoa season ended this February and was heavily affected by drought. So the farmers are not expecting much this season because of this singular reason,” adding that the effect of the drought was severe because of low window for research and development, stressing that there is need for continuous research to bring out drought resistant species.

Today.ng

Lagos has 0.2% of forest coverage, gives out tree seedlings

The Lagos State Government has said that it was distributing tree seedlings to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), individuals and the public as part of the activities that marked International Day of Forests.



The Director of Forestry in Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Kunle Otubu, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.



Otubu said that the state had less than 0.2 per cent of forest coverage, and that the aim of giving out free tree seedlings was to regain carbon monoxide lost through urbanisation.



“Sad to say in Lagos, we have less than 0.2 per cent covered with forest. Our aim is now to give out tree seedlings as much as possible to people.



“So that what we have lost to deforestation will now be recovered through afforestation.



“By planting the avenue trees in roads, schools and other open areas we regain what we lost through urban forestry.



“Carbon monoxide is significant to human health but the more we have trees, the carbons produced will be used for oxygen that can used by man.



“Today, we join the United Nations to mark the day and to encourage Lagosians to see the opportunity of replacing trees lost through deforestation,’’ Otubu said.



The director also said that the state was encouraging people to plant more trees so as to improve afforestation in the state.



The UN General Assembly on Dec. 21st 2012 adopted a resolution which declared March 21 every year to be observed as the International Day of Forests.



Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of UN, in a statement on the UN website said that forests were essential to realising our shared vision for people and the planet.



“The world’s forests are essential to realising our shared vision for people and the planet. They are central to our prosperity and the stability of the global climate.



“That is why the Sustainable Development Goals call for transformative action to safeguard them.



The theme for the 2016 International Day of Forests is “Forests and Water’


Thenewsnigeria

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In line with the persistent calls for a paradigm shift from over dependence on oil as the major earner of the country, the Lagos State Government and Kebbi State on Wednesday entered into a partnership on the establishment of a commodity value chain that will give a quantum leap to food processing, production and distribution. The partnership is aimed at bringing about national food sufficiency and food security, as well as creating employment and wealth distribution for the benefit of both states and the nation in general.

Speaking at the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two states held at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the partnership signaled the commencement of a new beginning of cooperation and common-sense revolution, which is line with the change mantra of All Progressives Congress (APC) that calls for patriotism in all facets of life.

Governor Ambode, who said the partnership would bring an end to the era of imported rice in the country, noted that there was no doubt about the economic prowess of the country to produce rice locally. “This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that two States are collaborating to develop their agricultural potentials. We have the economic prowess to produce rice locally. The era of imported rice is gone. The reality is for all of us to embrace the consumption of local foodstuff and commodities,” he said.

The Governor acknowledged the fact that the future of Lagos is partly tied to deliberate resolution on food security, and that food production and self-sufficiency required immediate attention at policy and strategic levels to sustain the country, hence the need for the partnership. “Lagos State is the largest consumer of food commodities in Nigeria by virtue of our State population. We have the market, with the required purchasing power also. Lagos State has an estimated consumption of over 798,000 metric tonnes of milled Rice per year which is equivalent to 15.96 million of 50kg bags, with a value of N135 billion per annum,” he said.

In addition to rice, Governor Ambode said Lagos is presently consuming 6,000 herds of cattle daily which may increase to 8,000 in the next 5years, adding that the bulk of vegetables produced in the country eventually end up in the Lagos markets. He added: “Lagos State is one of the largest producers of poultry and thus has a large demand for maize for livestock feed production.

The State also houses most of the industrial users of wheat and sorghum; mostly flour mills, bakeries, breweries and food manufacturers. “Kebbi State, on the other hand, is blessed with a vast arable land suitable for the cultivation of Rice, Wheat, Ground nut, Maize, Sorghum and Sugar cane. “It is an agrarian State with over 1.2 million hectares of arable land characterised by very large floodplains, lowland swamps and gentle slopes. In the 2014 / 2015 wet season, over 600,000 Hectares of land was deployed for Rice cultivation in the three senatorial areas of the State. “The people are traditionally Rice farmers with average land holding of about 10 Hectares. Presently, Kebbi has over 50,000 metric tonnes of paddy in store produced from the last 2 planting seasons. “With these considerations in mind, Lagos State and Kebbi State have decided to collaborate and exploit our areas of comparative advantage to create value for both States. This alliance will ensure Food Security, job creation, increase in farmers’ income and the overall improvement in the living conditions of the residents of both states through wealth creation and poverty reduction. “This collaboration is in line with the clarion call and policy direction given by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, on the need to feed ourselves,”

Governor Ambode stated. The joint venture between the two states, Governor Ambode explained, will be implemented using a Special Purpose Vehicle known as LASKEB Agricultural Production and Marketing Company (LAPMCO), adding that the major areas of focus will be the development of commodity value chains with emphasis on Rice, Wheat, Ground Nut, Onions, Maize/Sorghum and Beef. Speaking further on the agreement, Governor Ambode said: “The numerous thousands of our market women and men can become key employers of labour as distributors of ‘Ibile Rice’. We can also brand and package rice in the names of our distributors and market women. As a State, we shall adopt our local rice as a State dish in all ramifications. “The special purpose vehicle will allow the entrance of private sector investors and other states in expanding the rice mill at Imota, Ikorodu and other locations.

We have already designated the 100 hectare land at Imota as the Agric Park in the State. Other locations in and outside the State will be vigorously activated to fulfill our mission in record time.” Also speaking at the event, which was attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers and members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) from both states, Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu thanked Governor Ambode for providing leadership and innovation that brought about the partnership, adding that same was in line with the effort of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to restructure Nigeria away from overdependence on oil. Governor Bagudu said in the world of genetically modified food, the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi was an additional motivation to provide certainties for the people in terms of food production and sufficiency, and that the goal is to produce 60 to 70 percent of Nigeria’s Rice needs, and replicate same in other food items.

He said the agreement had the broadest public acceptance in Kebbi State, and that the people, especially farmers in the state, are delighted to partner with Lagos, which he described as the most entrepreneurial part of Nigeria. He said Lagos and Kebbi have had a long history of trade, and that the signing of the MoU was a further way of cementing the relationship with the view to make the people to get richer. “Lagos is the most entrepreneurial part of Nigeria. Lagos, if it were a country on itself, is a country that other states will be going to establish a relationship and so why not state to state. So, what we are doing is that we are pioneering a collaboration that will bring other states on board later and we believe that our potentials is enormous and we must have pacesetters to start that process of joint collaboration for our collective good,” Governor Bagudu said.


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