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.