Agriculture
IITA hands over 6,952.2kg seed yam to GoSeed
Yam seeds in crates.
The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), on Saturday handed over 6,952.
2kg of early generation seed yam to GoSeed, a unit of IITA business incubation platform.It was performed by Prof. Michael Abberton, the Director, IITA -West Africa and Prof. Morufat Balogun, a Tissue Culture Specialist, at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan.
Prof. Morufat Balogun (right); Prof. Michael Abberton; Dr Lava Kumar and Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, at the handing over of 6,952.2kg of early generation seed yam to GoSeed in Ibadan.
Abberton, in his remarks, said the YIISFWA project, meant to solve the challenges of unavailability and farmers’ inaccessibility to quality seed yam, was a success.
The institute’s Director urged the IITA-GoSeed and other relevant partners to prioritise sustainability of the programme.
He urged them to establish good mechanism by which farmers could get access to clean yam of good varieties – Asiedu and Kpamyo yams.
On her parts, Balogun said the 6,952.2kg seed yam was equivalent to 463,480 unit of 15 grams minisett, adding, “it is almost four times of the agreement signed with GoSeed”.
According to her, in addition, we will be giving them breeders to distribute to the YIISFWA’s private seed companies partners, to cushion GoSeed production for this season, that’s with the total six thousand units of mini-tuber.
“Now, GoSeed is approved by the National Agricultural Seed Council to be producing early generation seed, which include the breeder seed and the foundation seed.
“So, growers will produce certified seeds from the foundation seed which the farmers will now use to produce yams that we can eat.
“On top of that we have been training GoSeed two staff in the last one year, taken them through all the novel propagation technologies.
“We can say that they are already capacitated to take it forward,” she said.
Also, Dr Beatrice Aighewi, YIISFWA II Seed System Specialist, at the event, spoke on the status of YIISFWA II novel propagation technologies and commercialisation of formal seed yam system .
On yam production constraints, Aighewi identified scarcity of high-quality seed yam of released varieties as the foremost constraint.
He said: “Traditionally, farmers recycle seed tubers by saving at least 30 per cent of their produce to plant during the following cropping season.
“These seed tubers are often infested with pests and pathogens such as nematodes, viruses, fungi and bacteria, that affect the quality of the seed and yields.”
According to Aighewi, to address the challenge of unavailability to quality seed yam, the flagship
project, YIISFWA, has developed and validated tools and technologies to produce seed yam for the establishment of market-oriented seed systems, that ensure the sustainable supply of quality seed yam in Ghana and Nigeria.
“Some notable research achievements include: “Development of pathogens-elimination system, using meristem tissue culture techniques combined with heat therapy is one of the notable research achievements of YIISFWA.
“This method gets rid of viruses and endophytes from nucleus stock plantlets.”
On the development of novel high ratio propagation technologies to produce early generation seed, she said that conventionally, yam has a low rate of multiplication of about 1:5 tubers per plant.
“But, with the development of technologies like the plantform temporary immersion bioreactor system and drip system hydroponics in troughs or buckets and aeroponics system, the multiplication rate increases significantly to 1:50, 1::120 and 1:300 respectively.”
She further explained that the high ratio propagation technologies for rapid multiplication of high-quality early generation seed were being used to produce mother plants (breeder seed) for foundation seed yam production.
According to her, the main objective of introducing the breeder mother plants in aeroponics system and drip system hydroponics is to generate single node vine cuttings for high-ratio propagation of clean planting materials.
Aighewi said the project had successfully promoted and introduced the high ratio propagation technologies for seed yam production in Nigeria and Ghana.
On expectations and plans of GoSeed, Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, a Vegetable Seed Specialist, IITA, appreciated the efforts of YIISFWA, saying that impact of the project would forever remain relevant.
Diebiru-Ojo said GoSeed was saddled with the responsibility of producing early generation materials, especially the breeder seeds.
“We will be working with public institutions to ensure that we are doing the right things, we are going to be working closely with other seed companies that YIISFWA has empowered as well.
“We don’t want to only produce, but to ensure sustainability and continuity of the seed value chain.
“We want to make it as robust as possible, robust in terms of income generation, availability of quality yam seeds, hence farmers will be getting value for their money,” she said.
Dr Lava Kumar, YIISFWA II Plant Health Specialist, also gave advice on seed yam quality maintenance.(NAN)
Agriculture
Experts urge Media to Present Information on Genetically Modified Foods Objectively
The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has urged the media to stand in the communication gap in favour of biotechnology development n Nigeria, re-affirming the safety in the consumption of genetically modified foods.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, affirmed this during a one-day media field trip to NBRDA FARMS on Monday in Abuja.
The trip was organised by Open Forum On Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), an initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).
“Today, you shall be visiting our TELA Maize farms. This provides an exciting opportunity to see for yourselves what we have been doing here and equally gather your findings on what you have seen today and then take back the message to the people to quell some of the miscommunications about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops.
“TELA Maize hybrid varieties were developed to address some of the pressing challenges facing our farmers, including pests and diseases that can significantly reduce crop yields,” he said.
According to him, the production of the TELA MAIZE hybrid was done through the combined efforts of scientists at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria in collaboration with stakeholders in key institutions such as NBRDA, NBMA, NASC, and the AATF Research Team.
“We are here to showcase our demonstration farms of genetically modified versions of commonly consumed crops developed by our scientists that have enjoyed rave reviews from the global world of science and the agricultural sector.
“These experts have worked tirelessly to ensure that this crop is not only high-yielding but also safe for human consumption,” he added.
He noted that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has been instrumental in ensuring the safety and efficacy of TELA Maize which is believed to have the potential to transform the agricultural landscape in Nigeria and beyond.
Dr Jean Baptiste, the Regional Representative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, said that GMOs were aimed at leveraging the potential of biotechnology to develop a system that will help farmers.
He said Tella maize is a variety, developed using biotechnology methods to control insects.
“It also checks the resistance to drought and controls army worms, and stem borers in maize.
“At the end of the day, the benefits are enormous because it helps farmers increase yield and to be able to meet food security issues.
Dr. Francis Nwankwo, a TELA MAIZE developer from the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) explained the processes saying Tela maize passed through a genetic transformation that happens at the DNA level .
“They are not manufactured. What happens is we identify genes that can inhibit the infestation or reduce the infestation of some lepidoptera pests that affect some crops.
“So when we identify those genes we incorporate them into the DNA of maize thereby making it the maize, plus the genes.
“That way we increase the genes and reduce the struggles that our conventional maize go through on our farms like the stem borrower and others,” he said.
In her presentation, Dr Rose Gidado, Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department, NBRDA, explained that many countries have derived huge benefits from TELA maize citing countries such as the U.S. and Canada.
“We actually brought you here so you could see the disparities between the TELA MAIZE and the non-TELA MAIZE species, and the environment which is far different from what we see on social media.
“We have other crops like beans that have actually been through the same gene transfers and are doing perfectly well and are safe for consumption,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the media to be on the guard in view of a lot of misinformation going round on social media and take responsibility in providing related information to the public adequately and objectively. (NAN)
Agriculture
Epe LG Empowers 200 Farmers to Boost Food Production
Ms Surah Animashaun, the Chairperson, Epe Local Government, has empowered 200 farmers with cash and other agricultural inputs to boost food production in the area.
Animashaun distributed the agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries at the council secretariat in Epe on Thursday in Lagos.
She said the initiative was aimed at supporting farmers in order to boost food production in the various communities of the council.
Animashaun said the farmers who benefitted from the gesture are expected to be considerate in their price fixing after harvest to ensure the affordability of food for all Nigerians.
“With the economic situation now and the support being giving to you, farmers should be reasonable in fixing prices after harvest to ensure that ordinary Nigerians source food at a more convenient price nationwide.
“We are here to give you support for your farming activities today, we expect that you reciprocate tomorrow by selling at a more affordable price to the people tomorrow,’’ she said.
Animashaun explained that each of the benefiting farmers received N50,000 and essential grains such as maize and sorghum.
She said the council would continue to support the farmers for them to be strong in farming activities.
Animashaun also used the medium to highlight her administration’s ongoing efforts in the extension of palliatives to other sectors of the economy.
She urged the communities in the area to maintain harmony, love, hospitality, and compassion, particularly in the face of the present economic challenges.
Also speaking, Mr Sikiru Owolomoshe, the Vice Chairman of the council, urged the farmers to take advantage of the gesture to improve their activities in order to encourage others.
Mr Olayinka Kazeem, the Secretary of Epe Farmers and a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the council chairperson and her management.
“This is the first time we are witnessing this kind of programme and it is coming at a critical period when many states are facing food shortage,’’ he said.
He assured that the beneficiaries would do their best to ensure the objective was achieved.
Mr Ahmed Surakat, the Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Fishermen Cooperative Association, and Mrs Kafilat Animashahun beneficiaries, extended their gratitude to the council chairman for her unwavering support to farmers.
Earlier, the President of the Epe Farmers Union, Mrs Aminat Shabi, lauded Animashaun for the comprehensive support to other agricultural value chain such as fish farmers and livestock producers.(NAN)
Agriculture
Food Security Achievable Through RAAMP, Says National Coordinator
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has been described as an appropriate and very effective means of realising food sufficiency and security across the country.
The National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr Aminu Bodinga Mohammed who made the assertion during the 7th Joint World Bank and French Development Agency Implementation Support Mission of RAAMP at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, pointing out that most urban centers derive their supply of food from farms, which are located at the rural communities.
His words: “the primary objective of RAAMP is to improve rural roads and trading infrastructure through to boost food production.
Therefore the successful implementation of this project could go a long way towards guaranteeing food sufficiency and security across the country”.He solicited for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure an all-round success of the project.
Aminu noted that the mission was to evaluate the current implementation status, milestones as well as challenges faced by the 19 states participating in the project and announced that arrangements had reached an advanced stage for the commencement of civil works on agro-logistics centers (ALCs) latest by September, 2024 with 23 major contracts that would be awarded across the states.
ALCs refer to market hubs that have been prioritised for transformation to ultra-modern standards at various locations across the country , notably in rural communities to empower and enhance the livelihoods of the people.
Also speaking, the Task Team Leader of the World Bank, Mr. Rakeesh Tripathi hinted that a scale-up was being mooted for the project but emphasized that only states which must have established and operationalised the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF), backed up with the required standing on counterpart funds would be eligible to access the scale-up funds.
He therefore advised all states to take advantage of the mission and get the needed support to tackle every challenge facing their State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), adding that all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would be encouraged to embrace the scale-up project.
Highpoints of the exercise were presentations by the State Project Coordinators of the respective participating states, question and answer sessions, comments and observations, among other inputs by the stakeholders.
The Task Team Leader of the French Development Agency, AFD; Consultants from the World Bank; the Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU as well as State Project Implementation Units, SPIUs of RAAMP also attended the mission.