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.