YAM YAM YAM

Yam is classified under the plant species in the genus Dioscorea family that form edible tubers. Yams are vigorous herbaceous vines that vary in sizes. They are native of Africa, Asia and the Americas. The plant scatters by seed.

Consumer demand for yam is high despite the high labor requirements and production costs.

YAM BOTANICAL NAMES (Dioscorea - D)

D. rotundata	White yam
D. cayenensis	Yellow yam
D. alata	White/ Winged/ Water/ Purple yam
D. dumetorum	Bitter yam
D. esculenta	Lesser yam
D. bulbifera	Air yam
D. polystachya	Chinese yam
D. trifida	Cush-Cush yam

The palatable tuber has an uneven skin difficult to peel. The majority of the vegetable is composed of a much softer substance known as the "meat". This substance ranges in color from white or yellow to purple or pink in mature yams.

White yam	Yellow yam
Water yam	Bitter yam
Lesser yam	Air yam
Chinese yam	Cush-Cush yam

Yam crop begins when whole seed tubers or tuber portions are planted into mounds or ridges, at the beginning of the rainy season. The crop yield depends on how and where the sets are planted, sizes of mounds, interplant spacing, provision of stakes for the resultant plants, yam species, and tuber sizes desired at harvest.

Farmers who do not buy new seed yams usually set aside up to 30% of their harvest for planting the next year.

1bn worth Fertiliser Plants to be established In Nigeria by OCP

OCP Africa, a fertiliser manufacturing company which has its headquarters in Morocco, has made known its intention to establish two industrial fertiliser plants worth $1 billion this year to balance Nigeria’s government effort to boost local production.

The Managing Director of the company, Muhamed Hettiti, mentioned that the plants would in no small measure help in boosting local production, create jobs and facilitate export opportunities.

He further stated that the firm is supporting the Federal Government’s drive to increase local production of fertiliser as well as ensuring a decrease in NPK fertiliser importation.

“We have an objective to balance the trade between Morocco and Nigeria. We do not want only importation into Nigeria. Nigeria is importing DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphorous) fertiliser from Morocco.

“We want to leverage on the local raw material that is abundant in Nigeria which is ammonia. That is why we are looking for co-advertisement with the Federal Government to establish a big plant worth $1 billion. “The plant will produce ammonia that we can export to Morocco.

 “In 2018, we targeted 70,000 but as at November, we have done 67,600 in Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi and Kano states. In 2019, we have proposed to reach out to 100,000.”

He further mentioned that, under this initiative, they bring together all the stakeholders in the sector like the financial sector, seeds suppliers, fertiliser suppliers and off-takers.

“We try to develop farmers to see farming as a business. “We have reached out to 10,000 farmers in Kaduna and Gombe states.

Ogbeh Visits IDPs Beans Farmers Market

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh visited the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP Beans Farmers Market in Auta-Baliffe, Karu, Nasarawa State for needs assessment ahead of FG intervention

Chief Ogbeh returned to the market on a follow-up visit to conduct an assessment and identify specific areas for immediate intervention by the Federal Government a month after his first visit.

Addressing the farmers during the visit, the Minister charged the IDP farmers and traders on appropriate and safe storage of their farm produce and on the danger of preserving food with harmful chemicals.

Nigeria, Brazil seal $1.1b agriculture project deal

Nigeria, Brazil seal $1.1b agriculture project deal

For more details.. Click the link

AN ENTREPRENEUR

AN ENTREPRENEUR

An entrepreneur is an initiator, a challenger and a driver, who founds and runs a small business assuming all the risks and rewards of the venture. They play a key role in any economy.

Kamilu is an entrepreneur who started fruit business with three thousand naira (N3,000) only 15 years ago (2004). He was using barrow to sell Pineapple and after 2 years, he felt the need to open his own shop.

He got a space and added more fruits and vegetables to his stock. In a day he attends to at least 10 – 30 people. Kamilu said he faces many obstacles but they will not discourage him from continuing the business.

According to him, the fastest selling fruit is Water melon followed by Banana. 

CHALLENGES

• ·         Cost of transportation

• ·         Damages if not sold on time

Kamilu encourage youths to start their own business instead of staying idle. One can start with twenty to thirty thousand naira only (N20,000 – N30,000) or even less depending on the scale.

Kamilu intends to open more fruit shops at different locations to create employment for some youths.

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS

The Hungarian Government (through FAO agreement) is offering scholarships for the following Master of Science degree courses (in English) for the 2019 - 20 Academic Year:

• MSc in Plant Protection (University of Pannonia)
• MSc in Rural Development and Agribusiness (Szent Istvan University)
• MSc in Agricultural Biotechnology (Szent Istvan University)

Please visit the link below for the application process:

Hungarian Government Scholarship. www.fao.org

Deadline: 28 February 2019.