Agric info..

Be prepared! The National Egg Production Scheme will create 1 million jobs and increase the output of egg production to 50 million

Agric info.

Maize is still in season! The type you choose to produce should depend on your target market; for animal feed production, the yellow variety is the best...

why you have to eat fruit for breakfast

1. Fruit for breakfast is the perfect way to ‘break the overnight fast’, as it gently wakes the digestive system and metabolism up from a semi-slumber, all without the harsh adrenal jolt of a coffee or fatty meal.
2. If you eat enough fruit for breakfast you will not require a coffee as the natural fruit sugars keep the brain sharp and energized.
3. Between the hours of 7-11 AM the body is doing the heaviest detoxification, so eating fruits (especially during this time) ensures healing energy is being used for detoxification rather than beingwasted on digesting heavy fatty foods.
4. Fruit for breakfast promotes nice fluffy fruity floaters or in order words – large satisfying bowel movements. The fruit fibre clears the colon like a broom, leaving you feeling light, refreshed and ready to go.
5. People who eat fruit only for breakfast have been shown to be leaner, healthier and more productive during their day.
source: fitness

Agric Info

European Union has urged Nigeria Government to increase export of agric produces like rubber, cocoa and palm oil to the EU countries. Find out how and Invest!

Tomatoes and Garri now more expensive since fuel subsidy removal...??

Please i think we really need to look into this, as this may be the fastest way the common man on the street might be affected by the present state of the nation ,

lets rub minds this Saturday morning here on how much is Tomatoes and garri and all other normal food items in your area now?…
Subsidy or no subsidy, an average Nigerian man would still have to put something in his stomach, this is why we the Nigerian youths should stand tall today do as to subdue the "subsidy challenges" of tomorrow.
 I hear one tomato costs one thousand naira.. Is this true? The answers to our unanswered questions lies in the helms of Agriculture. Please share your views...

Helping Smallholder Farmers Build Stronger Businesses with Information and Communication Technology

Portable computers, tablets and smartphones have created new ways of accessing information. At the touch of a screen, we can check the bus schedule and decide whether to carry an umbrella. More and more, information and communication technology – often referred to as ICT – is also changing the way smallholder farmers do business.

Smallholder farmers often live in remote rural areas far from cities, markets and sometimes even roads. Most make sales to traders directly from the farm gate, for low prices, immediately after the harvest. Apps, SMS messages and radio programmes hold the promise to help farmers make informed business decisions about when, where and how to plant and sell their crops. Today, farmers are connecting with one another across vast distances with apps to improve their planting and harvesting skills. They receive weather and market price information through SMS messages directly on their phones. And they are able to use mobile phones to send and receive payments more quickly and securely.

agric info

Scarce Forex & high price of foreign rice have made Nigerians to consider local varieties! Tap into this opportunity by invest in rice farming or processing.

Corn Planting: How Deep Are You Planting Your Seed?

Common Planting Depths
Many factors are needed to be considered while planting a corn
crop. One of those factors is planting seed at the right depth. A
common principle of planting depth is to place a seed deep
enough in the soil to reach adequate moisture for germination
and emergence. The most common corn planting depth is 1.5 to
2 inches. The depth can be slightly increased if the soil is
abnormally dry and warm, however, it is not generally advised
to place seed deeper than three inches. Planting deeper than
normal results in slower emergence with the increased
likelihood of problems such as crust formation after rainfall
before the plant has emerged from the ground.

Shallow Planting: Things to consider

Modern cultivating equipment allow to have much better control

on planting depths and are equipped with better closing systems

than older machinery. This makes it appealing for growers to try

shallower planting depths. Corn fields planted at shallower

depth usually result in poor and uneven emergence which can

have potential negative effects on grain yield. Earlier planting

may be appropriate for shallower seed depth because the soil

warms-up faster on the surface. Surface residue can also play a

role in deciding the seeding depth. If the field has good residue

cover, the depth can be shallower than normal as the soil warms

up slower in high residue and no till systems. In any case

reducing seeding depth below 1.25 inches is not recommended.

Seeds that are planted shallower than recommended form nodal

roots that are very close to the surface and may not develop

proper root growth later in the season causing severe stress on

the growing plant.

THE HISTORY OF EARTH DAY

Each year, Earth Day—April 22—marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Earth Day Today

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. Earth Day 2000 used the power of the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a First Amendment Rally. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on global warming and clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to the narrative—cynicism versus activism. Despite these challenges, Earth Day prevailed and Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a relevant, powerful focal point. Earth Day Network brought 250,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, launched the world’s largest environmental service project—A Billion Acts of Green®–introduced a global tree planting initiative that has since grown into The Canopy Project, and engaged 22,000 partners in 192 countries in observing Earth Day.

Earth Day had reached into its current status as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes.

Today, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more chapters—struggles and victories—into the Earth Day book.


Stay tuned! 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of this milestone, Earth Day Network is preparing to announce an ambitious set of goals to shape the future we need.

WONDERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOY MILK

Soy milk, which is made from soaking, grinding and boiling soy beans with water, is a very nutritious drink. Soy is naturally high in essential fatty acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients provide energy and keep your body functioning at its optimum level. Below are the six most important health benefits you can acquire from drinking soy milk.
1. Improve Lipid Profile
The most important attribute of soy milk is its ability to improve your blood lipid profile. Unlike dairy milk, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, soy milk fat is mostly unsaturated with zero cholesterol. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in soy can inhibit the transport of cholesterol into your blood stream. Studies have shown that regular intake of soy can significantly lower you blood concentrations of triglyceride and low density lipoproteins (LDL) and raise the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL). This combined effect makes soy milk an ideal drink if you have high cholesterol or have a family history of coronary heart diseases.
2. Strengthen Blood Vessel Integrity
The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as the powerful phyto-antioxidants in soy can effectively protect your blood vessels from lesions and hemorrhage. These compounds bind to the blood vessel lining and defend your lining cells from free radical attacks and cholesterol deposits. The binding of these nutrients also improve the fluidity and flexibility of your blood vessels so that they are much more resilient to blood pressure changes.
3. Promote Weight Loss
Soy milk is naturally lower in sugar content than regular milk. Cow’s milk has about 12 grams of sugar per cup as opposed to only 7 grams in soy milk. This is why a cup of whole soy milk has only 80 calories, which is the equivalent of skim milk. In addition, the monounsaturated fatty acid in soy milk can inhibit your intestinal absorption of fat, which is another great advantage for weight loss. Drinking soy milk also gives you an extra dose of fiber, keeping your feeling fuller for longer time.
4. Prevent Prostate Cancer
Soy milk is a rich source of phytoestrogen, a unique plant hormone that can inhibit the production of testosterone in men. Reduced testosterone levels can significantly cut the risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men who eat a soy-rich diet are less likely  to develop prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer.
5. Prevent Postmenopausal Syndromes
During menopause, a woman’s natural production of estrogen drops to a minimum. The sudden reduction of estrogen creates a number of health problems for postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women have higher risks of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They are also more vulnerable to depression, mood swings, insomnia and other psychological disorders. The phytoestrogen in soy is an effective estrogen replacement. Regular intake of soy is a great way to prevent and alleviate these postmenopausal syndromes.
6. Prevent Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is another age and hormone related disease. The phytoestrogen in soy can help accelerate calcium absorption by your body and prevent the loss of bone mass. For the maximum benefit, make sure to buy the soy milk that is fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D.
Source: Agronigeria

FREE SCHOOL MEALS MUST COME FROM OUR FARMS

The Federal Government has been urged to ensure that the supply of food for the proposed free school meals must be from Nigerian farms.

This call was made by the  Country Director, Synergos Nigeria, Mr. Adewale Ajadi in an exclusive chat with him in Lagos.

“I love the fact that government might eventually do these school meals but they should make sure the food that goes to schools are from our farms and are nutritionally sound. Let’s go to research institutes and get to know what these foods can provide and the value chain in terms of food then what do we do with the bye-products,” Ajadi noted.

He noted that this will ensure we make good use of the God-given resources embedded in our nation.

The free school meals was promised by the President Buhari-led administration for pupils of schools across the federation.

Agriculture & rural development

Agriculture and rural development are essential to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by half by 2016.
Three in four poor people in developing countries live on the countryside. Most of them depend directly or indirectly from agriculture to survive. Women play an important role in food production, in food processing and in the commercialisation of food. Agricultural development can make a difference in the lives of a billion of poor people, mainly of women, and can contribute to both economic growth and to poverty reduction and food security.
Climate change will have a far-reaching impact on agriculture and mainly hit the poor. There is an urgent need for measures to reduce the impact on crop yields. On the other hand, agriculture also has a huge potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the right agricultural practices are used.

Agric info.

Now is the time to invest in tomato if you live in Kano or it's environ, as a processing factory that can mop up 1200 metric tons per day just setup around you.
Do you know Ghana export tomatoes into Nigeria to make up for shortfall? Consider investment in tomato farming, it is profitableltivation can never be a lose, Pepper is planted & harvested in three months, giving you considerable profit in a short time.
Pepper is consumed by all Nigerian making it a best seller in the market; an investment in pepper farming will always be profitable with the right practices. The planting season for the year has started! You can optimize the earnings from your farm by planting vegetable like ewedu or spinach with maize.

Agric info...

Being a part of a farmers co-operative or association closest to you increases your chances on accessing agric funds. Join one closest to you. world bank is set to spend $500m on irrigation projects in Nigeria.
World bank is helping Lagos farmers to improve packaging and marketing of their farm produce. Ask your local association for more information

Encouraging Youths in Agriculture

It is important for us to get our youths back to the landland.

If our youths are the leaders of tomorrow, they must also appreciate the place of agriculture in our national development. Our ageing peasant farmers cannot adapt to modern agriculture methods any more. We expect our youths to take over for their own sake and the sake of our country. That is the reason why youths in Nigerian should stand up to the task now, i am optimistic they will be courageous and embrace agriculture as a full time business to make Nigerian a better place again.

World Bank to establish agric. equipment centres for cassava farmers

Are you a cassava farmer, or planning to be one here is an opportunity for you to make it right.

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, Senior Agricultural Economist with the World Bank on Tuesday said the bank would establish equipment hiring enterprise centres for cassava farmers in Kogi to encourage mechanisation.
Oredipe disclosed this in Lokoja when he led a Task Team on monitoring visit to FADAMA III Additional Financing project sites in the state.
He said the Fadama Additional Financing project had the mandate of working with cassava farmers in the state to boost production and supply of raw materials to processing plants with particular emphasis on cassava industries.
The economist said that as part of key activities of the Additional Financing, the World Bank aimed to make mechanisation easier for farmers by enhancing their accessibility to equipment through the centres.
He added that “we also have provision for key infrastructure that will enable our cassava farmers to be able to produce enough food, just as we are going to support high quality inputs.
“We are also going to support capacity building because if people are in business and don’t know the tenets of business like simple issues of record keeping, it will be disastrous.
“All of these will be covered and we will also teach them how to remain together as a group and the advantages of social networking.’’
Oredipe said the body intended to engage scientists as advisory services consultants to work on the fields with the farmers to boost their yields and enable the attainment of the goals of the project within its lifespan.
He commended Kogi Government for being one of the first to pay its counterpart contribution for the project in 2014 and urged the state to pay its 2015 obligation arrears.
The payment, he said, would enable the state to fully draw down on the 20 million U.S. Dollars set aside for it.
The agricultural economist said the monitoring visit would among others, enable the team to assess the level of implementation of the agriculture work plan and status of activities on the fields.

Oredipe noted that “as the end of the exercise, we will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the project officers on how best to improve on what we are doing and foster new relationships in terms of how to move the project forward.’’

Ebonyi records first Avian Influenza case

Ebonyi has recorded its first case of Avian Influenza infection, as confirmed by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uchenna Orji.
Orji confirmed the virus’s detection on Sunday while interacting with newsmen who visited the affected poultry farm at Ugwuachara area of Abakaliki.
According to him, the attention of his ministry was drawn to the development, following massive death of birds at the farm.
“Officials of the state veterinary services took the sample of a bird’s carcass to a research institute in Jos, where it was confirmed that the birds died from the H5NI strains of the Avian Influenza.
“I have directed the veterinary department of the ministry to isolate the farm and take inventory of all poultry and ancillary farms in the state.
“We will also ensure sustained enlightenment on the influenza to educate the public on precautionary measures to take,” he said.
Reacting, the Director of Veterinary Services and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Ibiam Okoro, said that efforts had been intensified to contain the possible spread of the virus.
“The strain detected in the farm was only transmissible from animal to animal. Poultry farmers and the people are warned against the sale or consumption of sick or dead chicken,” he said.
The Avian Influenza Control Project Desk Officer in the state, Dr Rita Okoro, said that the alarm raised by the affected farm owner, helped in checking the spread of the virus to other farms in the state.
One of the Supervisors of the farm, Miss Victoria Chukwu, told newsmen that the sudden–massive death of the birds aroused suspicion as they failed to respond to all treatment given to them.
“Fellow poultry farmers should exercise caution while the people should ensure that chicken and other poultry products are properly cooked before consumption,” she advised.
#copied

Agric info

Seedbed preparation is advisable for a profitable maize production; it minimizes soil erosion due to heavy wind and water. Protect your crop.

Nigeria Must Turn To Agriculture Now, Says Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has declared that given the reality of the global financial situation, the time has come for Nigerians to do more than pay mere lip service to agriculture, as crude oil and gas exports will no longer be sufficient as the country’s major revenue earner.

Buhari made the declaration at an audience with Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, the Nigerian-born President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President said: “It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice. We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures.”
The President pledged that his administration would cut short the long bureaucratic processes that Nigerian farmers had to go through to get any form of assistance from government.
He told the IFAD President that improvement of the productivity of farmers, dry season farming and creative ways to combat the shrinking of the Lake Chad would also receive the attention of his administration.
“There is so much to be done. We will try and articulate a programme and consult organisations like IFAD for advise,” Buhari said, adding that foreign exchange will be conserved for machinery and other items needed for production, “instead of using it to import things like toothpicks.”
Nwanze congratulated the President on his victory at the general elections and assured him that IFAD was ready to give all possible assistance to the Federal Government and Nigerian farmers to boost agricultural production in the country.
IFAD is an international organisation dedicated to addressing issues of agriculture and poverty alleviation. It was established in 1978 and has been collaborating with Nigeria for over 30 years.

Wheat for Peace

I believe that one new technology will change the face of northern Nigeria forever – and that technology is wheat.
Naturally, you will not think that Nigeria can produce wheat. Many people say that. But it’s the same thing many people said about telephones, because they were thinking landlines. Nobody thought so many Nigerians could have telephones, but now they do.
In the 1980s when Nigeria tried to produce wheat, circumstances that were not viable. They tried to introduce a temperate crop into a tropical environment, and the yield was less than 1 tons per hectare. You have no business producing wheat under that condition.
Today, because of a partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, [two of 15 non-profit organizations linked to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, we have succeeded in introducing tropical wheat.

Still on the interview with the minister of agriculture.

With an agenda that large, where do you start?
We started the GES – Growth Enhancement Strategy – as a way of ending forty years of corruption in the seed and fertilizer sector. The GES program is run in every single local government across the entire country. Since last year, eight million farmers collected seeds and fertilizers by the GES system, and that has allowed us to improve the food security of 40 million persons within farm households.

Phones for farmers
We reach our farmers directly by mobile phones to give allocations for seed and fertilizer subsidies. Last year [when the distribution of low-cost mobile phones to farmers began], people are asking me a lot of hot questions. “Are mobile phones what farmers need in Nigeria?” They said mobile phones would not do anything.
Well, they were wrong. In the modern age, the most powerful tool in the hand of a farmer is not a tractor – it is the mobile phone, because that phone allows farmers to check market-price information; it allows them to know about weather information; it allows them to get extension service; it allows them to get access to finance; it allows them to get access to micro-insurance; it allows them to get access to their farm inputs, as we have shown by the electronic wallets in Nigeria – an electronic wallet system that delivers vouchers for subsidized inputs to farmers. We know how much they are they getting, how much are they paying and how much our government is paying. With this ICT technology, we have made it into a transparent system. We have empowered farmers. We have cut out the corrupt middlemen from the system.
We have also given dignity back to our farmers. They don’t beg anybody today to get seeds and fertilizers – and they shouldn’t. The mobile phone is everything for the farmers of Nigeria today.
Nigeria is estimated to have 125 million cell phones, reaching 75 percent of the population. But they don’t reach everywhere, do they? And where they don’t reach may be where they’re most needed – by the poorest, most rural farmers.
Despite all the successes we are having with it, one of these infrastructural challenges is the penetration of mobile phones in rural areas. There are a number of our rural areas where you don’t have good mobile phone penetration- but also you don’t even have stability of a connection enough for you to make a transaction. So we started looking for new technologies, trying to innovate – asking how we can get around this problem.
#copied.

"Coutd"Agriculture Is Nigeria’s ‘New Oil’

Here is some of the citation from the  interview.(please note that it is a reported speach).

Agriculture as Nigeria’s new oil? Yes! I believe that the future millionaires and billionaires of Nigeria will come out of agriculture. Listen, if the business of food doesn’t pay, why are we spending all that money importing food? It pays! You can choose not to ride a car, you can go inside of a train – but you can’t choose not to eat. Nobody eats GDP. People eat food.
Don’t get me wrong; growth isimportant. We need a lot of economic growth, GDP growth. We’ve got to make sure that we have inclusive growth that carries millions of people out of poverty, and the way to have that is through an agricultural transformation that reaches the tens of millions of people at the bottom.
Agriculture has the power to create jobs where it matters, in the rural areas. If you have almost 70% of our population living in rural areas, the main source of livelihood for them is agriculture. That is why as a government we took a position that we must make agriculture work. We must make it a money-making enterprise for farmers, for small businesses, because it creates jobs massively at the bottom. Even a 1% increase in productivity of agriculture will give you more than four times reduction in poverty.
What we’re doing now is to make sure that we can produce enough food for ourselves; process our foods locally into what’s accepted by our consumers and that can compete with imports. Our population, 167 million people, should be eating a lot of what we are producing. That way we create jobs for ourselves, we will revive our rural economies and we create a future of hope and shared prosperity for millions of our youth in this country – and assure our national security.
#premium times news  paper

Agriculture Is Nigeria’s ‘New Oil’ and Can Curb Conflict

Akin Adesina , Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of Nigeria, is an agricultural economist with decades of experience working to make agriculture productive and profitable. His appointment three years ago was hailed as merit driven rather than political, especially by international agriculture and development specialists. But that didn’t protect his ambitious reform programme from initial widespread skepticism and critical media scrutiny at home.
AllAfrica’s Reed Kramer sat down with Minister Adesina on a Saturday morning, thethe 2nd of April,2016  in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, when he squeezed time from a packed schedule for a lengthy interview. From his early days in the job, he framed the goal of his wide-ranging initiatives around the idea of “inclusive growth” – which is the theme of the World Economic Forum’s annual Africa meeting in Abuja this month. The minister hails agriculture as Nigeria’s path to prosperity – in contrast to oil, which left most Nigerians in wretched poverty while social services crumbled and hunger mounted. And at a time when the country’s domestic peace seems increasingly fragile, he sees agriculture as a tool to curb conflict.
Last year AllAfrica asked a class of Nigerian school children if they wanted to be farmers, and they said, “No, because we don’t want to be poor!” On the other hand, oil has earned $50 billion or more a year and made a Nigerian elite fabulously wealthy. But you’ve said that agriculture is the new oil. Really?

Agric-info

Aflatoxin free maize command good price in the market, apply Aflasafe to maize farm 2 to 3 weeks before flowering at the rate of 10kg /ha to displace aflatoxin

INVEST IN FARMERS

Poverty has a firm grip on rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa and millions lack access to sufficient high quality food. Even where natural resources are ample, people suffer from chronic malnourishment because they lack access to agricultural financing, quality seed and fertilizer, competitive crop distribution channels, agricultural education and training, and insurance against natural disasters.

Opportunity International focuses on improving agriculture in Africa because it is home to a quarter of the world’s arable land, yet it generates only 10% of global agricultural output. The fact remains that a typical African smallholder farming household lacks the necessary resources to transform their subsistence farm into a thriving agribusinesses.

Agrinfo,,,.

Are you a Small and medium enterprises in the agricultural value chain? You can apply for Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) for commercialization

.......coutd:12 Major problems of Agriculture in Nigeria.

2. Ignorance

Nigeria of today is a Country where Agriculture is 
still greatly and relatively Undermined; and or even 
Over-looked as a mere " Back-yard Business ". 
Some Nigerian Youths even regard Farming as:
" An Odd Job that is meant only for the Illiterate 
Rural People ".
In the eyes of some of Nigeria's Wealthy Class,
Farming is, Ignorantly Underrated or Abhorred as:
" Poor Peoples' Job ".
The very worst is that the Governments in Nigeria
Are, pretentiously doing very little or nothing in 
Terms of Solving the Nation's Food and Agricultural 
Problems.

#source: The Nigerian voice news paper.

12 MAJOR PROBLEMS OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA.

1.Poverty

In today's Nigeria, one of the Major Problems of Food Production is Poverty. On the other hand, one of the Simplest and a Doubtless Truth that you can easily Know about Nigeria is the fact that over 75% of Her Rural Dwellers are Full-time Farmers. 


Another Doubtless Truth that you can also Discover there is that Nigeria's present inability to, even Solve Her Own Problems of Food and Agriculture, is not as a Result of Her Peoples' Laziness; or say a Matter of the Nation being Naturally Unblessed. Nigerian Farmers and Nigerians in general are really Hard-working and Industrious. 
A very Great Variety of Delicious Species of Organic Foods, Fruits, Vegetables and Cash-crops abound in the Country. In fact, the Nation is so Highly Blessed, and there are very large Acres of Fertile Agricultural Lands all around the Country. 
But to me, Nigerians honestly are not really lacking Food. What they really lack there is the money to buy the Food; the money to Produce the Food; and, or even the money to procure small Piece of Land to Grow the food. 
#Source: The Nigerian voice news paper.

Agricinfo.

Being a part of a farmers co-operative or association closest to you increases your chances on accessing agric funds. Join one closest to you.

15 Emerging Agriculture Technologies That Will Change The World.

Below are technologies related to agricultural and natural manufacturing under four key areas of accelerating change: Sensors, Food, Automation and Engineering.

Sensors help agriculture by enabling real-time traceability and diagnosis of crop, livestock and farm machine states.

Food may benefit directly from genetic tailoring and potentially from producing meat directly in a lab.

Automation will help agriculture via large-scale robotic and microrobots to check and maintain crops at the plant level.

Engineering involves technologies that extend the reach of agriculture to new means, new places and new areas of the economy. Of particular interest will be synthetic biology, which allows efficiently reprogramming unicellular life to make fuels, byproducts accessible from organic chemistry and smart devices. Source: google.

Mobile computing has a role in ingriculture....

Portable computers and smartphones are destined to widely populate farm tractor cabs, pickups and offices in the future.

Apple’s iPhone (which now is available through Verizon as well as AT & T) and smartphones using Google’s Android operating system are becoming the cellular communicators of choice for many farmers. That’s despite the reality that few of the tens of thousands of phone applications are specific to agriculture.

Sales of tablet computers, like Apple’s iPad, are expected to grow dramatically. Sales will be fueled by a raft of new touch-screen tablets introduced in early 2011 that run a customized version of Google’s Android operating system. In coming weeks and months, you can expect to see new Android tablets from Dell, Acer, Asus, LG, Motorola, MSI, Samsung, Sharp, ZTE and others.

Ag-specific mobile computers continue to be based on the Windows operating system. This allows them to run Windows-based software that dominates the agriculture market. Ag Leader,Farm Works and SST have recently introduced new Windows Mobile rugged handhelds with enhanced features, including more powerful processors, GPS, high-resolution cameras and built-in wireless and cellular communications capabilities. For even more computing horsepower, Farm Works also offers the Yumaruggedized tablet computer, which runs the full Windows 7 operating system. – David Hest

Agroinfo

The world bank is set to spend $500m on irrigation projects in Nigeria, stay tune to know how it will boost agriculture...........

Here Are 17 Reasons to Celebrate Women in Agriculture

Women have been a driving force in agriculture for thousands of years, but their role in food systems has been severely overlooked.

Have you thanked a female farmer lately? If not, you should! Women have been a driving force in agriculture for thousands of years.
However, especially in developing countries, women’s role in agriculture has been severely overlooked. Women are the building blocks of our global food system and their role is integral to the establishment of food security everywhere. Take a moment to learn about how equality for women in agriculture and all aspects of food production is in everyone’s best interest.

Worldwide, women play a huge role in agriculture.
1. Women represent 43 percent of the agricultural workforce in the developing world.
2. Women in agriculture produce more than 50 percent of the world’s food, and are responsible for some 60 percent to 80 percent of food production in developing countries.
3. Globally, 1.6 billion women rely on farming for their livelihoods, which means that women’s land ownership is vital.

However, women don’t have the same access to resources as men.
4. In the 97 countries assessed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, female farmers only received 5 percent of all agricultural extension services.
5. Women have much lower rates of property ownership than their male counterparts. In some countries, men’s landholdings average three times those of women, and in North Africa and Western Asia, women represent fewer than 5 percent of agricultural landholders.
6. If women did have the same access to resources as men, estimates show that food production would increase by 20-30 percent, which would reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 100 to 150 million.

Women make up less of the agricultural workforce in the United States, but this could be changing.
7. One out of every seven principal farm operators is a woman. When secondary women operators are included, there are about 1 million female farmers in the United States, meaning 30 percent of all U.S. farmers.
8. The share of U.S. farms operated by women nearly tripled from 1978 to 2007; a remarkable increase. However, the number of women farmers decreased at a higher rate than their male counterparts from 2007 to 2012.
9. Minority women-owned farms have increased in recent years; Hispanic women led the way with 21 percent growth between 2007 and 2012.


Women are more likely to be affected by climate change than men, which is another reason why sustainable agricultural practices are crucial.
10. Changes in weather and temperature are expected to reduce crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa, and most of the farmers in this region are women.
11.  Women and girls are the most likely to be responsible for gathering water and fuel. As resources become scarcer, they will have to walk farther every day, therefore sacrificing time for other tasks, education, and rest.
12. Women and girls will suffer the most as climate change increases the severity and frequency of food shortages, because they are often the first to sacrifice their diets for other family members.
13. Natural disasters exacerbated by global warming will also hurt women the most. In countries where women don't have the same social and economic status as men, they're more likely to die in the aftermath of calamities.

Women’s increased involvement in agriculture could have profoundly positive impacts.
14. As of 2014, Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the United States, included just one woman on its 20-member leadership team. Tyson Foods, the largest chicken producer in the United States, had only one woman on its 12-member executive team.
15. The addition of women to food corporations’ leadership teams could potentially lead to more humane production practices, as women are twice as likely as men to choose cage-free eggs.
16. Women’s eating habits are more humane and sustainable than men’s in general. Women everywhere eat less meat and less fast food than men, and are more likely to be vegetarian.
17. Women are more likely to purchase organic food, think about food safety, and evaluate health, nutrition, and sustainability in making their dining decisions, according to the 2013 Food & Health Survey.
source;

By Cashen Conroy, Claire Jordan / Center for Food Safety

March 17, 2016

Scientists Develop Robotic Grafting System for Plants

A machine with hands of steel has revolutionized the speed and efficiency of the once-tedious process of plant grafting.

watch Video at: https://youtu.be/z_7ZrhmVSdE

 Grafting has been done all over the world for about 60 years, but when done by hand, it’s very slow and labor-intensive,” said Hassell, whose team includes Brian Ward, Mark Schaffer, Manning Rushton and Ginny DuBose. “The robot does it much faster than a human can do it. This reduces labor costs while at the same time enhancing healthy and robust growth because the same clean cut is made every time.”
This complex mechanical breakthrough, which is already being emulated worldwide, is a new addition to Hassell’s impressive resume of grafting accomplishments. In 2014, his team patented a chemical method to eliminate regrowth, grafting’s most costly side effect.
“The reason we graft crops such as watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes and peppers is because they have poor root systems that are very susceptible to soil-born disease. And so anything in the soil that stresses their roots collapses the plants,” said Hassell, Clemson Cooperative Extension’s South Carolina state vegetable specialist. “But if we graft hardier resistant rootstocks from plants such as gourds and squash onto the shoots of the desired crop, then the fruit-producing part of the plant is able to thrive.”
However, regrowth often occurs in grafting because the rootstock is genetically driven to produce its own shoots and leaves. When this happens, the grafted upper portion of the desired plant dies. To overcome this quandary, Hassell’s team turned to a chemical that for years has been used to control sucker growth in tobacco plants.
“We worked out the dilution and application methods and now we are able to destroy the growing point of the rootstock, which eliminates regrowth,” Hassell said. “We treat the root stock chemically as soon as it comes up and its first leaf appears. We call it blinding. The plant is actually blinded and has no growing point anymore.”
Enter the robot. In just a few seconds, it grasps and slices the upper shoot of a watermelon and the rootstock of a gourd and then clamps the two together. The grafted plant is now ready-made for its next stages of life.
“After the graft is completed, the plant is put into a high-humidity healing chamber that encourages the graft to heal and the rootstock to store carbohydrates while also sending out new roots,” Hassell said. “After about a week, we take the plant out of the healing chamber and put it into the greenhouse for another week, where it grows even larger and stronger. Finally, it’s ready to go to the field.”
Growers in South Carolina, the United States and around the world are adopting Hassell’s techniques, the latter of which is ironic considering that research on grafting is relatively new in the U.S.
“Grafting was laughed at when I first came here,” said Patrick Wechter, a research plant pathologist for the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, which shares facilities and works in conjunction with Coastal REC in Charleston. “People said no one will ever do it in the U.S. because it’s too expensive. But Richard has persisted and become of one of the leading experts in the world on grafting.”
Source: http://www.clemson.edu/

 

15 Best Fruits For Fast Weight Loss

Fruits are not only a great source of vitamins, nutrients and fiber for us, they are actually a great food source for people looking to lose weight as well. This is because fruits contain natural sugars which are low in calories but are large in volume.
If you are embarking on a weight loss journey, fruits have the potential to keep you from getting hunger pangs. Don’t be frustrated by diets that require a daily count of your calorie intake anymore. We show you 15 fruits that promote faster weight loss, in a healthy way.

                                                     Image source: Fresh Madison Market

Avocados are rich in healthy fats. They also have a high content of monounsaturated oleic acid and water. This ‘good fat’ found in avocados increase metabolism and increase the production of testosterone, a hormone which aids in fat loss.

IITA’s Cassava Weed Management Study Reveals Gaps in Nigeria’s Extension System

A study on the Training Needs Assessment of extension agents in Nigeria has revealed several gaps and constraints that have hitherto limited the effectiveness of extension service in the country.
Findings from the study, which was recently presented in a paper titled: ‘The Capacity of Extension Staff in Managing Weeds in Cassava Systems in Nigeria’ in Nanning, China, during the World Congress on Root and Tuber Crops’ revealed that unless extension workers have the capacity to transfer improved knowledge on weed control in cassava, farmers will not be able to maximize the benefits of improved weed management technologies.
A Communication and Knowledge Exchange expert at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, Godwin Atser, who presented the paper, also noted that the current farmer-extension ratio of one extension worker to 3011 farm families was a major constraint limiting the effectiveness of extension system in Nigeria.
“The ratio of one extension worker to over 3,000 farmers drastically fell short of the target of the Nigerian government to have one agricultural extension worker attached to 800 farmers, posing a serious challenge to the agricultural transformation agenda of the government,” he explained.
Atser said that apart from the grossly inadequate number of extension workers, his study indicated that the existing workers were older, lacked capacity development as a result of underfunding and basic requirements, causing inefficiency.
The study, which was funded by the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project specifically, investigated the capabilities of extension staff of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in weed management in cassava systems in Nigeria.
“The findings of the study,” Atser said, “showed that more than 80 per cent of extension staff have not had training that specifically targets weed management in cassava.
“There is knowledge gap on weed identification, types of herbicides, cassava varietal identification, and computer skills among extension staff.
“Furthermore, the extension system in Nigeria is male dominated and majority are 50 years and above. Radio, telephone and group discussion were the most used communication channels for technology transfer to farmers by extension staff.”
He recommended training of extension staff on sustainable management of weeds in cassava systems with specific emphasis on weed identification, herbicides use and application, cassava varietal identification, gender and computer skills.
Atser concluded by calling for recruitment of young, educated and upwardly mobile agricultural extension workers in Nigeria, with intensive capacity development to meet up with the need for effective dissemination of information to farmers on new technologies, varieties and market opportunities. "This Day News paper, Thursday 18th March, 2016".

Time for growers to get agricultural irrigation systems checked and fixed

March is a good time to check conditions and make repairs on water systems Leaky pipes, flat tires and rodent-infested electrical boxes are issues that should be addressed now by farmers with irrigation systems,“you want those irrigation systems up and running when you need them. you don’t want to be midway through the production season, needing to apply water, and all of a sudden have a breakdown. Say you notice a leak in your irrigation system while you’re irrigating corn. Georgia corn growers begin planting in March (sometimes even late February), so the time is now for producers to address any irrigation issues.Farmers are also encouraged to check the power systems. Whether the system is operated by electricity or a diesel engine, it may be time for service. Growers are advised to change air filters and oil filters, check wires to make sure nothing has chewed on them and check to see if any rodents or bees have started nesting inside electrical boxes.Farmers may not realize the tires on the pivot need to be checked, too. Just like the tires go flat on a car that’s left unused for an extended period of time, so too can the tires on irrigation systems that haven’t been used since last fall.“It’s something that can be easily fixed right now when you’re out in an open field away from crops. You get that system in the middle of a crop, it’s really hard to get out there with some tools and get that tire pulled off without being just miserable out there, sitting on your knees. We don’t want (you) to have to do that,” Porter said. College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences University of Georgia — Tifton Campus.

AfSIS Phase II To Promote New Methods In Agriculture, Soil Mgt

The soil disposition of an environment can make or mar the efforts of a farmer, hence the efforts of the government, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to review the African Soil Information System towards achieving reliable soil information, Ruth Tene Natsa writes. Recently, stakeholders met to review the African Soil Information System/Nigerian Soil Information System (AfSIS/NiSIS) work plan in pursuance of the AfSIS Phase II in which Nigeria alongside Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia are participants. Giving an overview of the project, the adviser on African Soil, Bruce Scott, recalled that the Phase I of the project began in October 1, 2012, while the second phase began in January 2015. He said, “The objective of the second phase of the project is improving agricultural decision making, the productivity, profitability and sustainability of innovative IT-based technologies, products and services related to collecting, creating, analysing, interpreting, delivering and acting.” He added that this is achievable through the four work-streams which include the development of soil and landscape information systems and core data, protocols and tools required at the country and continental levels, development of agricultural decision support applications that add value and inform decision making at multiple levels, from national and regional policy formation to farm-level land management, and institutionalisation and capacity strengthening to develop robust national soil

AfSIS Phase II To Promote New Methods In Agriculture, Soil Mgt

The soil disposition of an environment can make or mar the efforts of a farmer, hence the efforts of the government, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to review the African Soil Information System towards achieving reliable soil information, Ruth Tene Natsa writes. Recently, stakeholders met to review the African Soil Information System/Nigerian Soil Information System (AfSIS/NiSIS) work plan in pursuance of the AfSIS Phase II in which Nigeria alongside Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia are participants. Giving an overview of the project, the adviser on African Soil, Bruce Scott, recalled that the Phase I of the project began in October 1, 2012, while the second phase began in January 2015. He said, “The objective of the second phase of the project is improving agricultural decision making, the productivity, profitability and sustainability of innovative IT-based technologies, products and services related to collecting, creating, analysing, interpreting, delivering and acting.” He added that this is achievable through the four work-streams which include the development of soil and landscape information systems and core data, protocols and tools required at the country and continental levels, development of agricultural decision support applications that add value and inform decision making at multiple levels, from national and regional policy formation to farm-level land management, and institutionalisation and capacity strengthening to develop robust national soil

Nigerian Farmers Benefit from USAID Agricultural Initiative

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Markets has said that, no fewer than two million rural farmers have benefited from agricultural and capacity building assistance of the agency since 2005 as part of efforts to boost food security in the country. In achieving this gesture, the agency said that, it had provided mechanization and capacity building grants to 29 high performing farmer groups across the northern, Middle Belt and Southern regions of the country and this had improved their farm production. The Director, External Relations USAID Markets 11, Mr. Godson Ononiwu, disclosed this in Kpada town in Patigi local government council of Kwara state during the presentation of tractor with implements to the Anfani Kin Kpada Tifin Cooperative Society over the weekend. He said: “In Benue and. Kwara states, USAID Markets has been providing agricultural and capacity building to 70,139 aqua culture, rice and soya bean farmers since April 2012.

Advancing agriculture with women.

The world of women, they say is filled with several obligations. These obligations most times are said to surpass that of men. However, the debate on that still remains up in the air. What is incontrovertible however, is that the presence of women in the world has immensely contributed to the achievements recorded thus far. On the home front, the woman is seen as the home maker and builder. At the religious end, women are regarded as help mates to the men. In economic circles, the women are seen as better managers of resources – termed to be meager and inadequate – than men. With these and many more attributes in mind, the world sets aside March 8 every year as a day to celebrate women. According to the International Women’s Day, the day is set aside to “celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. “International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since in the early 1900’s – a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. “Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others,” the website noted. In agriculture, the role of women cannot be underestimated. Being the official home makers, the onus lies on them to ensure the adequate availability of food to satisfy the household. According to internationally comparable data, women comprise an average of 43 percent of the agricultural labour force of developing countries. This implies the conscious involvement of women in agriculture. It is noteworthy that the involvement of women in agriculture in Africa has experienced a surge. Food and Agriculture Organization statistics shows that women in Nigeria are fully involved in agricultural activities. With this year’s campaign theme: #PledgeforParity, women are rising demand for the conducive environment to help them harness the limitless potentials they possess in social, economic, cultural and political economy, business as well as in agriculture. With this campaign hitting the waves, there is a sincere attitude of the women to give in more to every facet of living as well as contribute their quota to the advancement of the world. To achieve this, there is need to actually ensure the exposure of women to the requisite education, information, science and technology, and extension services. This will definitely improve productivity, expand ownership and reach.

Why Agriculture Must Become Nigeria’s Major Income Exchange Earner

The minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said Nigeria must develop agriculture because the transition from oil to agriculture as the country’s major foreign exchange earner is vital to the country’s survival. Ogbe disclosed this yesterday when he led the minister of state for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and other officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, on a courtesy call to Rivers State Governor, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, at Government House, Port Harcourt. He stated that Rivers State remains critical in the development of agriculture in the country, considering the fact that it hosts the two biggest fertiliser plants in Nigeria, Notore Limited and Indorama Petrochemical Company Limited. Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, stated that agriculture should be developed as the country’s next foreign exchange earner in view of dwindling oil prices, pointing out that developing agriculture would generate employment and strengthen the economy. Wike said, “Agriculture is a critical sector which should be developed as a major foreign exchange earner for the country. Rivers State Government will work with the Federal Government to develop agriculture.” The governor, who stated that the state government has initiated school farming to encourage youths to be involved in agriculture, said his administration has also extended loans to farmers for greater agricultural production. He approved the hosting of the 2017 agricultural conference in Rivers State as requested by the Minister of Agriculture. Disqus seems to be taking longer than usual. Reload? comments powered by Disqus Total Votes: 14480 LATEST POSTS 4:03 am Aregbesola Creates 31 Additional LCDAs In Osun — Comment 4:02 am Disregard Amosun’s Threat Labour Leaders Tell Workers — Comment 3:59 am Labour Rejects Perm Sec Tenure Extension — Comment 3:57 am Ekiti Releases Names Of Lawmakers In DSS Custody — Comment 3:56 am Dwindling Economy: Economist Wants Bailouts For Manufacturers — Comment POLL Is The Buhari Administration On The Right Track? Yes No Vote Tweets by @LeadershipNGA 1 friend likes this Leadership Newspap... 802,799 likes Like Page Share EXCHANGE RATE Naira Exchange Rate in NGN AED 54.2 CAD 149 CNY 30.6 EUR 220 GBP 284 INR 2.96 USD 199 ZAR 13 8 Mar 16 Tweets by @FRSCNigeria LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY LOGIN Username * Password * No Community Account? Create One! PHOTO GALLERY Mothers Day Celebration at the Aso Villa Chapel in Presidential Villa Abuja on 06 / 03 / 16 Monday Open Letter To President Buhari/ Osinbajo: Re - Devaluation Of The Naira by By Bode Olowoporoku Mar 7th | Comments The controversy as to …read more Tuesday Erdogan Threatens Democracy, Media In Turkey by Cemal Yigit Mar 8th | Comments Nationwide anti- government protests have broken out in Turkey against the …read more Wednesday Spoken Word: Bane Of Nigeria’s Development by Hannatu Musawa Mar 9th | Comments Earlier in the month, the popular Mile 12 market in Ketu area of Lagos state, witnessed …read more Thursday The Bitter Truth by Abba Mahmood Mar 3rd | Comments President Muhammadu Buhari should know that if, today, there was going to be an election again in Nigeria, his party, …read more Friday Speed Limiter On Thursday Of Long Knives by Azubuike Ishiekwene Mar 4th | Comments The House of Representatives is spoiling for a fight with …read more Saturday Time For National Airline Commission by Capt. Daniel Omale Mar 5th | Comments Less than a month after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the U.S. Congress rushed through a $15billion …read more Sunday From Agatu To Ketu, Terror Unlimited by Aniebo Nwamu Mar 6th | Comments While on a fact-finding mission to Benue State on Thursday, inspector- general of police Solomon Arase …read more DAILY COLUMNS Copyright © 2015 Leadership Newspaper. All Rights Reserved. MENU SEARC Forget Small Manhood And Premature Ejaculation. See How I Solved My Problems After Loosing My Girlfriend To Our Dry Cleaner Click Here To See Small manhood and premature ejaculation made me stay away from love making for 4 yrs... But these simple solutions WORKED! Click Here to see my breakthrough. What response do you usually get from your wife after a nice time in bed? Discover a great natural solution that changed my life and put an end to weak/premature ejaculation click here to see it. click here to see it. STOP Being a Weak 3-minutes Man in Bed! New Natural Solution Helps You Cure Premature Ejaculation without any side effects. Source; Leadership newspaper (2016).

First tomatoes, peas harvested on Mars, moon soil simulant

The second experiment on how to grow crops on Mars and moon soil simulant have given a surprising outcome. As a result of what the researchers of Wageningen University & Research centre in the Netherlands learned from their first experiments, they were able to grow ten different crop species. Tomatoes, peas, rye, garden rocket, radish and garden cress were harvested. "The total above ground biomass produced on the Mars soil simulant was not significantly different from the potting compost we used as a control," says researcher Dr Wieger Wamelink. The goal of the experiments is to provide the basis for growing crops on Mars and on the moon, in order to feed the first settlers. Moon soil simulant A few improvements have been made since the first experiment. Wamelink: "We used trays instead of small pots and added organic material (fresh cut grass) to the Mars and moon soil simulant. This solved the problem we had with watering in the first experiment and also added manure to the soils." In particular the crop growth on the moon soil simulant showed improvement. Where in the first moon soil experiment most plants died, in the next round they flourished and the researchers could harvest from the same species as on the Mars soil simulant and Earth potting compost control. Source; Wageningen University and Research Centre (2016).

Dow to Launch New Burndown Herbicide

Dow AgroSciences plans to release Elevore herbicide, Group 4 growth regulator, designed for burndown applications. The low-use-rate active ingredient, Arylex, offers control of ALS- and glyphosate- resistant weeds. Pending regulatory approvals, registration for Elevore is expected in 2017.Elevore is expected to be labeled for burndown applications in multiple crops, including soybeans and corn. When added to a burndown program, Elevore will offer control of labeled broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate- and ALS-resistant weed species such as henbit, chickweed, and marestail, according to Dow AgroSciences.“Ultimately, if growers achieve good weed control with a burndown program, they will likely be set up for success for the entire season,” says Lindsey Hecht, soybean herbicides product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “Upon regulatory approval, this new herbicide will be an excellent fit in reduced and no-till production systems to control actively growing weed species and give growers peace of mind that they will plant into a clean field.”Research trials for Elevore have resulted in thorough, effective control of targeted high-anxiety weeds, including 8-inch-tall marestail, according to Dow AgroSciences. Marestail is believed to be the first glyphosate-resistant weed in the United States and continues to drive weed control decisions for many growers.“Growers are seeking new, better ways to control marestail,” Hecht says. “We look forward to offering Elevore to mitigate the ever- growing threat of weed pressure and provide improved control of marestail.” Source: Kacey Birchmier

Can agriculture in Africa sustain a nourishing rural non-farm economy?

After being out of fashion for a long period, agriculture has been coming back into the spotlight again as part of development policy. Amid rising concerns about food insecurity and high expectations from agribusiness, policymakers have started to emphasise the importance of agriculture as a source of employment. Across Africa interest in agricultural investment as a source of employment growth and profit is growing. In South Africa, the National Development Plan identifies agriculture as the potential basis of one million new jobs. But how realistic are these hopes? In our globalised and competitive world, agricultural development is not a great direct generator of jobs. In fact, increases in the intensity, efficiency or competitiveness of agriculture often push large numbers of people off the land. Farm workers, less efficient small farmers, and women often get the short end of the stick. Policymakers often assume that this is an inevitable part of progress. In the past, displaced rural labour has often found alternative employment in the cities. But in many parts of the world, including sub- Saharan Africa, the prospects for this are slender. Agricultural development may enrich a few – but it can also swell the numbers of the urban poor. Agricultural development can only serve inclusive growth if it contributes to an inclusive and diverse rural non-farm economy. Unfortunately, policymakers tend to ignore this issue. Agricultural policy is not much concerned with labour markets, while industry and trade ministers tend to concentrate on urban issues. This is an important gap. Policymakers need to ask how different pathways of agricultural development affect non-farm employment.

Commercial success from humble start

Becoming a farmer didn’t simply fall into Willem Klaase’s lap. He and his wife, Martha, worked hard and took risks to get where they are today. He talked to Glenneis Kriel about this journey. Of all the things that Willem Klaase has learnt on his journey to becoming a successful livestock and potato farmer, the one that stands out is that we are all responsible for realising our own dreams. “People have helped me over the years, but there have also been setbacks and those who worked against me. Through all of this, I learnt that I am responsible for my own destiny. I can’t wait for other people or the government to realise my dreams,” he says. Today he has reaped the benefit of perseverance, and his family are majority shareholders in the Welbeloon Boerdery Trust which owns De La Rey farm near Aurora in the Sandveld. Willem had always wanted to farm. He and his wife, Martha, grew up in the Richtersveld, where their parents kept a few sheep on communal land. He remembers the response of his parents when the children in his family wanted puppies on the arrival of new litters of pups in the community. “They would say, ‘People choose animals, not the other way around’.” Willem says this principle has profoundly influenced his approach to farming. “There are many horror stories of farmers who neglect their animals. If you want to be a successful livestock producer, you need to see your animals every day. It is your responsibility to make sure they have enough food and water. If you can’t do this, downscale the unit to a more manageable size. You have chosen the animals, the animals haven’t chosen you.” By Glenneis Kriel

question of the day, "Is there a future for farmers in Nigeria?

For starters, our government has painted itself into a corner by pursuing two vastly conflicting priorities: land reform and food security. Nigeria will never have enough money to settle all restitution claims by paying market-related prices for land; equally, there is no clear and proven plan to ensure that productive agricultural land transferred to land reform beneficiaries remains productive. But perhaps most concerning of all is the degree of powerlessness that many farmers experience in their ability to determine the course of their lives and businesses. The future, it may seem, is not in their hands. What a terrifying thought! And this applies to all farmers, commercial farmers, smallholder farmers, and even people aspiring to one day become farmers. Here is a government that tells you that you have stolen the land you have spent your entire life toiling on (and in many instances are still paying for). It says you can have land to realise your dream of becoming a farmer but then takes years and years to deliver on this promise. It gives you access to land, but cleverly manipulates policy in such a way that that land will never actually belong to you. It even wants to dictate how much land you are allowed to own. With a government like this, it is understandable that Nigerian farmers might feel they have no hand in determining their fate. To my mind, the best remedy for this situation is to beat government at its own game. The farming sector must drive transformation in agriculture as if its future depended on it, because it almost certainly does. Farmers have to find a way to make land reform work where government is failing.

Ensure you get the best Quality fish feeds, manufactured to the highest standArD for fast growth.

Feeding Catfish: This constitutes the bulk of the cost of rearing catfish, usually 60% and above. In most places in Nigeria available catfish feeds are imported and cost an average of N5,500/15kg bag. A 15kg bag can take 700 two month old fishes just 10 days! While you are in a hurry to start reaping the profit from catfish culturing, be prepared beforehand for the challenge of feeding the fishes. Catfish can be fed once or twice a day. Excessive feeding of fingerlings increases the cost of rearing catfish and thus results in wastage as this may only result in marginal growth increases. Feeds are also a primary source of pond water pollution and excessive feeding constitutes a water management challenge. Thus the catfish farmer needs to strike a balance between feeding and water management. There are several subjective formulas used to determine an appropriate feeding program for fish. One is to provide as much feeds that fishes can finish in 5 – 10 minutes. This can then be used as the quantity of feed needed for ‘satiation’. Using this formula, catfish can be fed just once a day. With respect to feeding catfish, an alternative for Nigerian farmers is the use of locally-made feeds. Unlike the imported counterpart, local feeds cost an average of N3,500/15kg bag without considerable growth implications. A challenge however would be to access sources of such local feeds as most parts of Nigeria are filled with the expensive imported feeds.

The health of your fish farm determines your revenue...!!

Before venturing into catfish farming, it is pertinent to take a number of factors into consideration for success. Rearing catfish is not merely about buying fingerlings and ‘dumping’ them in a pond and then feeding them ‘thrice’ a day. From the outset the farmer should take time to put into consideration the following: quality of fingerlings, pond design, feeding program, water management and well as markets for harvested catfish. Quality of Fingerlings: Catfish fingerlings are of different breeds, just like other species of animals. It is important that the catfish farmer takes his time to identify fast growing and disease resistant breeds of fingerlings to ensure profitability in a catfish venture. This can be done through appropriate consultation with a specialist in fingerlings and physically evaluating fingerlings from several farms before making a pick on stock of fingerlings. Pond Design: Stocking density plays a huge role in the growth rate of cultured catfish. Like for all other animals over-crowding catfish would increase competition for resources like food and oxygen. This can promote the growth of some fish at the expense of others and in the end lead to cannibalism. Besides, pressure stresses due to over-stocking are bound to affect the all-round development of fish in the pond. Once stunted growth sets in from the outset it is bound to linger. Therefore the catfish farmer would want to consider an appropriate length, breadth and depth of pond, depending on his intended number of fishes to stock pond with. Also pond design should incorporate provision for the separation of fishes in the event that growth is non-proportionate to avoid cannibalism. Water management for pond would mean periodic changing of water and pond design should incorporate this from the outset to avoid challenges.

Weed reduces profit, cassava/Maize/Melon.....

Weeding, using the traditional hoe was done at 3 and 8 WAP (Weeks After Planting), The maize cobs were harvested fresh at 12 WAP. The maize stover was laid in-between the cassava and the soybean rows, 4 weeks after soybean planting when the melon pods were also collected for processing. Soybean was harvested 16 WAP. The cassava was harvested 9 months after planting. The experiment shows that intercropping cassava with maize and melon with relayed soybean can be a profitable farming venture. Organic fertilizer produced satisfactory yields under the intensive cropping system tested in this experiment in the first year of cropping. Intercropping cassava with maize and melon with relayed soybean would be a profitable farming venture if higher doses of organic manure (about 10 tonnes/ha) are complemented with inorganic fertilizers. Ambe, T.J.; S.N.Lyonga; A.A. Agboola and S.K. Hahn (1988) The performance of Cassava with other staples in intercrops in Cameroon. In: Proceedings of first Annual Meeting of Cassava – based Cropping Systems Research Group. I. I. T. A., Ibadan. Pp. 91-97.

Time of planting, Cassava/MAize/Melon inter-crop coutd.

Maize and melon were planted in April, at the establishment of the rains. Maize was established at 1.0 x 0.5m, 2 seeds/stand and melon at 1.0 x 1.0m, 2 seeds/stand. They were planted on alternate rows to have a 1:1 spatial arrangement that gives the best performance, Cassava was planted at the end of June. Soybean seeds were drilled in-between the cassava rows two weeks after the removal of the melon and a hand-weeding of the plots. The soybean was sown at 5cm intra-row spacing.

Get the best out of your farm, generate steady income by Intercroping cassava with maize and melon.

The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with nutrient sources as the main factor and cropping system as the sub-factor. There were four main treatments and two sub-treatments. The main treatments were: (1) Organic fertilizer, made of an equal mixture of domestic waste collected from a composted refuse dumping site and stale cow dung applied at 10 tons/ha; (2) Inorganic fertilizer, supplied as 150kg N from Urea and 50kg P/ha from Single Superphosphate fertilizer; (3) Organic + Inorganic fertilizer treatment, supplied as half the rates applied for the organic and the inorganic fertilizer treatments; (4) Control. The sub-treatments were: (i) Sole cassava; (ii) Cassava + soybean.

Series 2. on Fish Farming

Fish Farming 2. African catfish usually takes an average of 5 months to reach table size. At this age they usually have attained an average weight of 1kg. The weight attained by catfish after 5 months is however variable depending on a number of factors that may include, quality of fingerlings used, quality of feeds, water management quality, absence of disease, stocking density among others. It is not uncommon to have fish weigh up to 1.5kg after five months. The market price of African catfish is usually gauged per kg-weight of fish. This price varies across several geographical locations in Nigeria. On the average catfish can be sold for N500/kg in Lagos, N650/kg in Makurdi and 750/kg in Abuja. The market for catfish however is not lacking, irrespective of geographical location, disparities merely occur in the pricing of catfish: which is dependent on the dynamics of demand and supply.

CAT FISH PRODUCTION Catfish farming is increasingly becoming an attractive form of agriculture for many Nigerians especially young people. Farming fish which belongs to the part of agriculture referred to as ‘aquaculture’ is catching the eye of many people as the prospects of profit, especially at first glance seem motivating enough. This form of agriculture has found a huge followers- base primarily due to the relative ease of culturing catfish, the readily available markets for catfish, e.g. with restaurants, especially as catfish is a treasured delicacy among many Nigerian cultures as well as the profitability of a successful catfish venture. Many Nigerians involved in catfish farming use concrete ponds or plastic tanks. Both methods have their strengths and weaknesses and it is wise for the would-be catfish farmer to explore these perspectives before making a decision on which to adopt. While using concrete pond seems to be more natural to culturing catfish, plastic tanks can come handy where availability of space is a constraint. Using ponds also gives the farmer the leverage of culturing a relatively larger number of fishes as pond design can be tailored from the outset to match intended fish density. Culturing tanks are however limited in sizes and fixed, thus limiting the catfish farmer to stocking the tanks with a restricted number of fishes for best results.

Buhari Says He Would Rather Invest In Agriculture Than Give N5k To Unemployed Nigerians While speaking during a meeting in Saudi Arabia, President Buhari said he had a different opinion on the N5000 stipend his party promised to give to unemployed Nigerians when they come into power. Buhari said he would rather use the N5000 to repair the infrastructures in schools and empower mining and agriculture than to give the money to people who don’t work; “This largess of N5,000 for the unemployed, I have got a slightly different priority. I would rather do the infrastructure for the school that request them and empower agriculture, mining so that every able bodied person can go and get work instead of giving N5,000 to those who don’t work.” What's your view about this...?? Pls drop your comments.

Ooni With Commen Sense – We’ve Assembled 200,000 Youths To Go Back To Farming (SEE THIS) The New Ooni Of Ife is a blessing to Nigerians and Nigeria as a Country. Few days ago, He made a Statement and he’s ready to take the bold moves that will sure Transform and grow the economy of Nigeria soon. Read below:- “I am working with the minister of Agriculture. We have assembled over 200,000 youths within 30 days. We are encouraging them to go back to the Farm. Something happened in Nigeria that we did not notice. Last october, crude oil price started going down astronomically but Coca price went up over 100 percent and nobody noticed it.” – Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Bravo!!! 👏 Ooni with common sense – have never felt so excited about any King in Nigeria like I am with Ooni, may your reign be long Kabiesi o Amin…

What type of career do you aspire to have? Do you want to be an artist, a business person, or a policymaker? Or, have you ever wanted to become a farmer? I would not be surprised if you said no. When weighing career choices, many young people in the developing world tend to shy away from agriculture. I, too, As the conventional belief goes, agriculture means an archaic lifestyle and a future with limited opportunities for youth. But I later learned I was wrong. Plenty of evidence shows us that agriculture provides youth a viable way to harvest success and grow a sustainable future. In other words, I believe youth can, and should, choose agriculture.