Agriculture
Ortom Launches National Livestock Transformation Plan, Insists on Ranches
From Chris Gaga, Makurdi
Benue State government, Monday, launched the National Livestock Transformation Plan(NLTP)
A Stakeholders Steering Committee comprising of State Livestock Transformation Officers(SLTOs) and Project Management Officers have undergone a two – day training on the smooth implementation of the pilot scheme under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).
The flag off was witnessed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and NEPAD, office of the Vice-President Mr.
Andrew Kwasari.Performing the flag off ceremony in Makurdi, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom reiterated his stand that the NLTP will only be operated in line with the existing State law on Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017, adding that the law will take it’s course on offenders.
Ortom said his commitment and allegiance was with the people of Benue who voted massively for him, adding that the state had no land for other forms of animal husbandry except, ranching.
He said all ethnic groups including the Fulanis were welcome to Benue for livestock farming, but insisted that all who want to do livestock in the state must ranch.
“Other States are free to do Ruga, Grazing Reserves.They are also free to do cattle colonies, but here in Benue, it is ranching or no other thing.
The governor dared the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Abdullahi Bodejo for threatening to perpetrate attacks on states wanting to implement ranching instead of Ruga, to try grazing in the open in Benue and face possible arrest.
“Let it be known to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that, he cannot decide for Benue people. So Bodejo be careful! If you come here, you will not go free,” Ortom said.
Ortom expressed delight that the NLTP would benefit farmers and people of the state in their peculiar needs, even as he charged Benue people to take advantage of the plan.
He was confident that the six pillars of the NLTP if properly implemented would go along way in easing the pains of Benue people who have suffered much setbacks as a result of attacks.
He informed that as a matter of priority of the plan, he has obliged to Chair the steering committee with his deputy as alternate Chairman for smooth implementation of the project.
The governor appealed to the federal government to assist the persons who are still living in Internally Displaced Camps because of herdsmen attacks to return to their homes as promised by the Vice President.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs/NEPAD, Mr. Andrew Kwasari charged Benue State government to craft it’s own strategy on implementing NLTP especially as they seemed it fit.
Kwasari also challenged the steering committee to understand the peculiar demands of communities affected and document them so as to “implement the plan in a Benue way inclusively.”
He said though it was not going to be easy to operate the policy, the SLTOs/PMOs should craft possible ways of ensuring an all inclusive implementation of the plan for the benefit of peace and harmonious coexistence.
The Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on SDGs/NEPAD, Mrs Magdalene Dura, said the state was domesticating the NLTP within the ambit of the ranching establishment law of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Tor-tiv, Tor Lobi, chief Moses Anagende and Och’Idoma represented by Ad’Otukpo, Chief Samuel Onuh expressed their confidence in NLTP saying it is best sutiable for the state.
The traditional rulers however maintained that any deviation from ranching as of the NLTP will be opposed with total vehemence, noting that RUGA and cattle colony stand rejected in the state.
Agriculture
NCP Approves Repositioning of Agriculture Bank
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has given its nod to the recommendations aimed at repositioning the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to ensure food security for Nigerians.
Chaired by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the NCP approved the recommendations from the committee on BOA during its second meeting of 2024 held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
In his address at the meeting, the Vice President emphasized the importance of optimizing BOA as part of the administration’s agenda to provide food security for the nation.
He urged the committee to engage professionals with integrity to manage the process effectively.Presenting the committee’s report, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who is also the Vice-chairman of the NCP, highlighted the decision to reposition BOA for efficiency and effectiveness. He expressed confidence that the recommendations would guide the Council in revitalizing the Bank of Agriculture and positioning it globally.
One of the Key recommendations includes upgrading the Bank’s ICT infrastructure to automate processes and ensure accountability.
Recall that in 2023, an 8-member inter-ministerial team was set up by the NCP to review the state of affairs at BOA, given its critical role in agriculture and the administration’s commitment to food security.
Additionally, in 2016, the NCP approved collaboration between the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with the Federal Ministry of Finance, to restructure and recapitalize BOA.
According to a statement by BPE Head of Public Communications, Amina Tukur Othman on Friday, the BOA, formerly known as Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank, waa established in 1992.
It is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) holding 60% and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holding 40%. The Bank is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).
Agriculture
Mrs Soludo Launches Organic Garden Competition in Anambra Secondary Schools
Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Saturday launched the organic garden competition in secondary schools in Anambra to encourage children to learn more about food and farming.
Soludo, while addressing Healthy Living Teacher Ambassadors in Awka, said the organic garden competition would help teach children the importance of food and farming and its impact on their lives.
She described organic farming as a process that involved the use of natural food sources and nutrients for farming practices without fertiliser or other chemicals.
“This competition is part of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Campaign to achieve a culture of health consciousness, drive organic agriculture with emphasis on food safety and sustainable living.
“It will help our students learn valuable lessons about where their food comes from, the benefits of eating fresh and healthy foods, and how to care for the environment.
“Vegetable seeds will be distributed to schools and at the end of every term, schools with the three best gardens will be rewarded.
“Our children at a tender age will start to appreciate agriculture as an essential way of life and the need to be part of building solutions that foster healthy foods in the society,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Afam Obidike, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said the schools garden competition would increase student’s knowledge about the nutritional value of foods.
In her remarks, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, Chairperson, Post Primary Schools Service Commission, said schools in the state would offer Health Living lecture every Wednesday after break to help students learn how to be healthy and grow into healthy adults.
Reports says that the programme featured distribution of okro, carrot, pepper, tomatoes, watermelon and cucumber seeds to the school teachers to begin the process of their school gardens.(NAN)
Agriculture
Food Inflation: Agric Ministry Receives 2.15m Bags of Fertilisers from CBN
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has received 2.15 million bags of assorted fertilisers from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Reports says that the assorted fertilisers would be distributed to farmers to curb food inflation in the country as well as boost food production and food security.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who spoke at the event on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed gratitude to the President Bola Tinubu and CBN for the gesture.
Kyari assured the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, that the inputs would be judiciously used and delivered to the intended farmers.
“Thank you very much; this is more than goodies; 2.
15 million bags of assorted fertilisers; we want to express our profound appreciation on behalf of the Nigerian farmers and President Tinubu.“Also, we appreciate you, our dear brother, the CBN governor and your team for giving us this wonderful gift.
“I want to assure you that it will be judiciously used and it will be delivered to the last man and intended farmers where they can reap the benefits of this huge gesture.
“They (farmers) can in turn cultivate and produce more that would stem the galloping food inflation that is affecting our country.’’
He said that challenges such as food prices, food cultivation, flooding and climate change among others had impacted on agricultural production in the country, adding that insecurity was on decline.
“l am happy to say that those things I mentioned are on the decline; insecurity is on the decline and we are mitigating against climate change.
“We are sensitising farmers to go into dry season agriculture.’’
Kyari said that there was need to need to boost and repair irrigation infrastructure so as to have all year round farming.
“Which (irrigation) is even more secured than that of the wet season farming,” he said.
Earlier, Cardoso expressed enthusiasm for the visit and presentation which was to address the issue of escalating cost of food in the country.
According to him, food prices are crucial components of inflation.
He said that the CBN aimed to enhance its partnership with the ministry to improve food production.
“This is precisely why we convene today to strengthen our collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to mitigate the surge in food prices.
“The gesture is in alignment with our strategic shift towards focusing on our fundamental mandate.
“The CBN has veered away from direct quasi-fiscal interventions and transitioned towards leveraging conventional monetary policy tools for executing monetary policies effectively.
“In this light, we aim to extend our support and foster closer ties with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with the mandate and expertise to undertake these critical initiatives.
“Consequently, we aim to enhance our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, bolstering your endeavours to enhance food productivity and security, ultimately curbing food inflation and fortifying our pursuit of price stability.
“In pursuit of these shared goals, we are delighted to announce the allocation of 2.15 million bags of fertilisers valued at over N100 billion which we humbly hand over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“This contribution from CBN aims to amplify food production capabilities and foster price stabilisation within the agricultural sector,” he said.(NAN)