Arunachal CM seeks Centre's support for agriculture university

Itanagar, May 18 (IANS) Chief Minister Pema Khandu sought the Centre's support for a full-fledged agriculture university and a Centre of Excellence for Horticulture to be established in Arunachal Pradesh. 

Khandu conveyed this to Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sudharshan Bhagat, who called on him at his office. 

Starting a cocoa farm this season

Cocoa, according to the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), was introduced by the Portuguese into the Gulf of Guinea from where it got to Nigeria around the last quarter of the 19th Century. 

 

The introduced variety was the Amelonado. This variety later became unique to West Africa, hence the name “West African Amelonado“, for its significant chocolate flavor which remains a benchmark in the World Cocoa Industry till date.

Food Systems Are Failing To Drive Improvements In Nutrition

The Global Panel’s policy brief “Improving nutrition through enhanced food environments” has revealed that food systems are failing to drive improvement in nutrition.

This is even as it revealed that two billion people have micronutrient deficiency, 200 million children are stunted or wasted and two billion people are overweight or obese (increasing non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease) among others.

Onion glut hits Katsina as farmers seek storage facilities

New onions have flooded various markets in Katsina State, forcing its price down by about 50%.

Our reporter, who visited markets in some parts of the state, observed that a bag of onions that sold for N6,000 and N8,000 some months ago now goes for between  N2,500 and N4,000, depending on the size. 

Tractor loan delinquencies could rise due to loan waiver

Delinquencies on tractor loans could rise because of loan waivers as other Indian states are likely to follow Uttar Pradesh (UP’s) lead in waiving loans, rating agency Fitch said in a report on Tuesday.

Earlier this month the UP state government announced a Rs 36,359 crore loan waiver with a cap of Rs 1 lakh per farmer, for small and marginal farmers. Though tractor loans were not included, expectations are that they could be eventually. 

NAFDAC to teach food handling in wake of poisonous cassava

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says arrangements are on to sensitise farmers in Kogi and Ondo on how to handle food chain from the farms to consumers’ table.

The NAFDAC Director, Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, said operators of fast food outlets in both states would also be trained.

33 Youths Train In Enugu, Anambra, On Seed and Cassava Production

Thirty three youths from Enugu and Anambra states was trained by the Agricultural Transformation Support Program Phase 1{ATASP-1} on seed production technologies.
 

Zonal programme coordinator of ATASP-1, a  programme developed by the African Development Bank {ATASP-1] in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Egba Romanus, made the disclosure during the 2017 steering meeting of agricultural transformation agenda support program, Phase one held at ENADEP, Enugu.

Bauchi LG trains 1,200 farmers on modern agricultural practices

Ganjuwa Local Government Council in Bauchi State has trained over 1,200 farmers on best agricultural practices ahead of the 2017 farming season, Dr Alqasim Ibrahim, said.

Ibrahim said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Saturday that the training was under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

Fake fertilisers surface as prices remain high in markets

With the rain-fed farming season setting in, prices of fertilisers, one of the major agro inputs, are still high in markets in many parts of the country.

This is just as the Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export raised alarm over the circulation of uncertified agricultural inputs, mostly fertilisers, allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals.

Edo clears 1000 hectares land for maize farming

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated 1,000 hectares of cleared field for maize production in Sobe Farm Settlement of Owan West Local Government of the state.

Speaking during the inauguration, Obaseki said the maize cultivation, which could directly empower 200 agripreneurs, was part of his administration’s accelerated agriculture initiative to create jobs in the state.

President Barrow Pledges To Release $25m To Farmers Ahead Of Rainy Season

President Adama Barrow of The Gambia on Monday plegded to release 25 million dollars to farmers ahead of the rainy season, which is due in two months’ time, local media reported on Monday.

“So far 25 million U.S. dollars is available from the Islamic Development Bank to support farmers with groundnut seeds and fertilizers for the upcoming rainy season,” President Barrow said in a press statement.

Fear Grips Kebbi Rice Farmers Over Quelea Birds Invasion

Farmers in Kebbi State are in a state of nervousness over fear of quelea birds invading and attacking their rice farms. The farmers’  apprehension was heightened when handful of the pest were spotted flying around their dry season farms.

“There is possibility of the quelea birds attacking our crops , we have started seeing a couple of them around our farms although not in large numbers. The birds have even now have starred disturbing the germinating rice, Muhammadu Nafiu a rice farmer said.

FAO Seeks $62m To Support Agriculture In North-East

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has appealed to the UN to release 62 million U.S. dollars to support wet-season farming in the north-eastern part of the country.

Mr Nourou Tall, the Acting FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, made the appeal at a news conference in Maiduguri on Thursday.

Olam Farms engages 600 locals as rice harvest begins

Olams Rice Farms, producers of Mama’s Pride and Chef’s Choice Rice, has commenced harvest in its dry season rice farming circle.

 
A total number of 11 combined harvesters and one splitter harvest machine were deployed for the harvest.

Wheat farmers secure N50m loan in Kano

The Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano State has secured a N50 million loan from the State Government, its Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, said on Wednesday.

Rabi’u said that the loan would be used to assist the farmers warehouse their produce after harvest.

Research finding to help farmers tackle weeds in Cassava – Dr Dixon

Researchers working under the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture led Cassava Weed Management Project (IITA-CWMP) will this week share findings and recommendations on how to tackle weeds in cassava farming systems.

The sharing of research findings is part of activities marked for a week-long annual review and planning meeting and Steering Committee meeting scheduled at IITA in Ibadan (27-30 March 2017).

Agriculture, solid minerals can pay Nigeria’s debt — Ogbeh

The Minister said that most funds for the training of youths in agriculture were borrowed from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The Federal Government would soon launch a National Plantation Programme to encourage individuals to farm the smallest part of their unused land to invent for their future, Ogbeh said.

Production and Distribution of quality seeds to Farmers in Nigeria will create 40 million jobs -

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called for development, production and distribution of quality seeds to farmers in Nigeria in order to boost agricultural output and

create over 40 million jobs for the unemployed population, during his visit to Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited, Zaria, Kaduna State.

Top China university renews research ties with IRRI

The China Agricultural University (CAU) signed an agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 15 March 2017, renewing a partnership to boost research, training, and knowledge and technologies exchange between the two institutions.

Under the new agreement, CAU and IRRI scientists will collaborate on several areas of rice research including genomics and advanced breeding.

Read More... 

Role of mechanization in sustainable rice production highlighted during international exhibit

BANGKOK, Thailand— “There is a need to mechanize the rural areas to increase productivity as that is a key driver for change in the rice sector,” Dr. Bas Bouman, the director of a global partnership platform for making rice research more effective in meeting development challenges.

The leader of the CGIAR Research Program on Rice (RICE) made the statement at the AGRITECHNICA Asia, a trade fair for agricultural machinery and equipment held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center on 15-17 March.

Read More... 

NiMet DG forecasts livestock disease outbreaks

The new Director-General (DG) of Nigerian Meterological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, said the expected heat stress may continue throughout the year causing outbreak of heat-related disease and he advised farmers to arrange for alternative sources of water for their livestock during the period.

“The relevant authorities should also encourage farmers to adopt international best practices in animal husbandry through provision of ranches and fodder for livestock as well as ensuring controlled grazing of animals to reduce clashes among farm owners and herdsmen,” he noted.

Gov. Tambuwal Approves Recruitment Of Additional Agric Extension Workers

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has approved the enrollment of additional extension workers to increase manpower and expertise in the state’s wheat value chain.

According to the governor of Sokoto State, those to be employed include university graduates and holders of national diploma in agricultural science, agric-economy, crop science and related disciplines.

IFAD Grant Call for Proposals: Scaling-up Empowerment through Household Methodologies

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is seeking proposals to implement a project on “Scaling-up empowerment through household methodologies: from thousands to millions” in order to build knowledge, skills and expertise at local, national, regional and global levels to upscale household methodologies to empower millions of women, men and rural youth for rural inclusiveness.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to identify, through a competitive selection process, an organisation which will be responsible for the overall programme coordination at global level and the implementation in selected countries in different regions either directly through its subsidiary staff or by outsourcing services to local service providers.

Costs of garri, rice others rise as inflation rate drops – NBS

The selected food price watch data released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the average prices of yam, beef, tinned milk, onion, frozen chicken, tomato and beans also recorded exceptional leaps in the last one year.

This is even as the NBS reported in a separate report, also released yesterday, that Nigeria recorded first drop in inflation rate in 15 months as the rate slowed by 0.94 per cent from the 18.72 per cent recorded in January to 17.78 per cent in February 2017.

Fresh tomatoes arrive Lagos from Kano by rail after 58 years,

History was made on Tuesday as fresh tomatoes from Kano arrived Lagos by rail after 58 years.

Emmanuel Itoya Ijewere, an outstanding businessman disclosed this at the FirstBank’s maiden Agric Expo 2017, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, on Tuesday.

First Bank Nigeria hosted its first ever Agric Expo summit in Lagos

First Bank Nigeria limited, Nigeria’s leading financial services firm in furtherance of its support and value for the development of the Agricultural sector, hosted its first ever Agric Expo summit in Lagos.

Giving the opening remarks at the event, the MD/CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Dr Adesola Adeduntan described Agriculture as the sector that “Holds sway in the mission to eradicate poverty in the country”. 

Governor Aminu Tambuwal Flags Off N1.56bn Fadama III Scheme

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has flagged off this year’s Fadama III dry season intervention in the state.

The event, which held at Kurfi village of Kware LGA, will cover the 23 local government councils with a collective cost of N1.56 billion.

Sokoto carrot farmers request for seeds, processing factory

Sokoto State is well-known as the major producers of carrot. It is cultivated in most of the local government areas of the state.

Carrot farmers in the state have stressed the need for a processing factory in the state for value addition and sufficient use of carrot for consumption and export.

Olam Nigeria won the 2016 productivity award for rice production

The Olam Rice Farm has been honoured with the National Productivity Order of Merit award (NPOM) for the year 2016.

Olam Rice Farm in Rukubi, Nasarawa State, sits on 14,000 hectares equipped with a 105,000 metric tonnes capacity rice mill.

New features added to AgriSync Management tool

AgriSync has updated its collaboration and service management tool so that professional Ag advisers can see, track, and solve farmers’ problems remotely with a smart device.

“The advisers and farmers using AgriSync gave us great feedback about ways to increase their efficiency and ultimately make their problem-solving and organizing efforts a little easier,” said Casey Niemann, AgriSync president.

New Agrible Pocket Spray Smart App for Farmers

Pocket Spray Smart is an iOS app, which works with Agrible’s Morning Farm Report software, to help farmers choose when to spray their fields. It displays to a farmer, up to three days in advance, what conditions look like hour by hour for spraying.

The app provides information on wind speed and direction, timing, and duration of temperature inversions that could impact spraying, and whether the soil will support equipment in the palm of your hand to best determine when to spray herbicides. 

Smuggled harmful frozen fish – Senator Heineken Lokpobiri

The Federal Government warns Nigerians on smuggled harmful frozen fish illegally imported into the country through land borders.

This was revealed by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri while speaking at the Abuja headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Chi Farms marks 10 years of partnership with Aviagen

Chi Farms Limited is celebrating 10 years of partnership with the global market leader in poultry genetics and owner of the popular ‘Arbor Acres’ broiler brand, Aviagen.

In a press release, Chi Farms General Manager, Dr Tunji Olaitan expressed that the partnership had made Chi Farms Limited the leading Grand Parent Integrator and distributor of quality day-old chicks in Nigeria.

Plans to allocate 250 hectares of land for agricultural development in Kwara State

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr.  Goke Bamidele, went to inspect the arable farmland at Ejidonugari in Moro Local Government Area of the state for the plans to cultivate 250 hectares of land for 2017 Off-Takers Demand Driven Agriculture exercise (ODDA).

According to him “The major purpose of this exercise is to earmark 250 hectares of land for the 2017 Off-Takers Demand Driven Agriculture exercise across the state. The farm land was identified by the Kwara State House of Assembly members, who desire to participate in the ODDA scheme as a group”.

Inadequacy of cold storage space for potato crop - Bengal farmers

Potato farmers in West Bengal, which is the second largest producers of potato in the country after Uttar Pradesh, is in severe shortage of cold storage capacity which may cause rural level socio-economic crisis in many districts of the state if not properly managed.

As the potato sowing and reaping timeline goes, farmers start loading their produce at cold storages during March by paying an advance to procure storage authorization known as ‘bond.’ The stock starts coming out of storage from May onward depending upon market demand and pricing level.

Hydroponics Technology

Farmers are leveraging on hydroponics technology which is the growing of plants in a soil less medium, or an aquatic based environment unlike the Orthodox agriculture that requires working tiresomely with hoe and machete

An Agropreneur, Angel Adelaja, describes hydroponics as a process of growing plants without soil in water, saying it is a technology that makes nutrients readily available to plants for better and healthier growth.

Sugar output to fall 19% this season

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said harvest in the 2016-17 season beginning October would be about 20.3 million tones, compared with 25.1 million tonnes in the earlier season. In January this year, ISMA had forecast production of 21.3 million tonnes. 

  

"Considering the opening balance of 7.75 million tonne, and an estimated production of 20.3 million tonnes and consumption of 23.8-24 million tonnes, the closing balance in the current season would be 4-4.2 million tones,” ISMA said in a press statement. “This balance will be enough to meet the domestic requirement until almost end of November 2017." 

FG To Organise Seminar on International Women’s Day

The Federal Government has said it would organise a day seminar on food packaging and group formation in Sokoto State to observe this year’s international women’s day celebrations.

In a release by the Office of the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, the seminar tagged “Be Bold for Change” hopes to positively impact the lives of the women and help build their capacity for sustainable enterprises.

BUA offered Interest Free Loan to 2,000 Rice Farmers

BUA Rice Milling Company, Kano, exhibited their commitment to boost rice farming by offering a non interest loan of enhanced rice seeds, pump machines and other tools worth Two Hundred and Eighty eight thousand naira (N288,000) to each of the 2000 targeted rice farmers in Kano State, Nigeria.

In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of BUA Rice Milling Company, Kano, Alhaji Kabiru Isyaku Rabiu, he expressed optimism to the mutual relation between the rice farmers and the rice milling company.

Dangote Tomato concludes arrangement with Gombe, Sokoto farmers

The Dangote Tomato Processing Company, Kadawa, Kano state has concluded arrangement to purchase fresh tomatoes from farmers in Gombe and Sokoto States.

The Managing Director, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita disclosed this in Kano.

Japan Contributes to Emergency Food Assistance in Libya via WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$700,000 from the Government of Japan that will provide vital food support to tens of thousands of Libyans affected by ongoing conflict since 2011.

 

“As we speak, over one million people are suffering from displacement and major food shortages in Libya,” said WFP Libya Country Director Wagdi Othman. “This timely contribution from Japan is a vital step towards easing the increasingly worsening food shortages affecting too many families.”

Agriculture University cautions farmers against Aphid damage to wheat crops

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has advised the farmers to remain observant and regularly monitor their wheat crop for aphid damage.

Cloudy weather without any rainfall is highly favourable for their development cautioned RS Gill, head, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agriculture University.

Government hikes minimum wage for agriculture labourer

Labour ministry has nearly doubled the minimum wage for agriculture labourers including those hired on contract, barely six months after a significant increase in minimum wages for non-agricultural labourers. Centre had on August 1 last year raised minimum wage of non-agricultural workers by 42% 

According to a labour ministry notification, an unskilled agriculture labourer would be entitled to get a minimum wage of Rs 300 per day in C-category towns as against Rs 160 now while those in B and A category towns will get Rs 303 and Rs 333 respectively. 

Washington State Professor Lav Khot Finds Sky-high Opportunities for Drones in Agriculture

The work of researchers like Dr. Lav Khot is showing that we’ve only scratched the surface of what this relatively new technology can do for agriculture.

Khot works for Washington State University’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems and in the agricultural automation engineering research emphasis area of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.

Peter Tiu Laviña resigns as National Irrigation Administration (NIA)

Chief Peter Tiu Laviña the former campaign spokesperson of Duterte, was appointed as National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Chief in November.

Laviña has resigned from his post amidst corruption accusations. Laviña on his Facebook page on Tuesday said “All the while I thought I would just leave and move on. He he he we need to fight off the intrigues!” 

"Paalam!
I have been vilified in the past; my name used, abused and maligned. Recently, there had been efforts to discredit me again. There are rumors circulating that I have asked money from NIA contractors. These are not true!" he said in a separate post.

How to start Onions Farming/ Buying & Selling Business in Nigeria.

Onions can be grown anywhere in Nigeria and they have a short growing season. Onions farming or just buying and selling aspect of is a huge trade with great turnover if you find buyers. Every business requires strategic marketing and Onion business is no exception.

Onions can be used in a wide variety of recipes. They can be fried, roasted and eaten raw on sandwiches or in salads. Additionally, onions are used to flavor lots of different sauces and soups. Onions are packed with vitamins and minerals.

  

We will first look into the buying and selling aspect of onion business.

Anambra to export 1millon tubers of yam to UK

Anambra State government has announced plans to export one million tubers of yam to the United Kingdom.

Governor Willie Obiano, who made the disclosure in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, also said the state would soon produce 550,000, eggs per day to meet the needs of the people.

Senator distributes 114 water pumps to dry-season farmers‎ in Bauchi

The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial district, Senator Ali Wakili has distributed 114 water pumps to dry season farmers in his constituency.

Speaking during the distribution at his residence in Bauchi, he said that the gesture is aimed at assisting rural farmers as a way to reduce poverty at the grassroots.

Accomack County leads Virginia in corn and soybean production

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that Accomack County leads Virginia in corn and soybean production.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released corn and soybean county estimates from the 2016. Corn and soybeans, which are Virginia’s top cash crops, brought in nearly $361 million in cash in 2015.

Ingredients for making Herbal Soap

1. Fresh Turmeric
2. Ghana or Black Soap
3. Honey
4. Lemon Juice
5. Carrot Oil

Mix all the above ingredients together and pound for some minutes, after that transfer into a container for use (You can mold them).

Enjoy your homemade Herbal Soap... 

How safe is the wax on apples?

Fruit waxing is the process of covering fruits (and in some cases vegetables) with artificial waxing material. Waxing materials may be either natural or petroleum-based.

The primary reasons for waxing are to prevent water loss (making up for the removal in washing of the natural waxes in fruits that have them, particularly citrus but also, for example, apples) and thus retard shrinkage and spoilage, and to improve appearance.

 

Coating of apples is carried out by applying a thin layer of wax on the surface. The coating process can be carried out by either dipping, brushing or spraying with wax.