Agriculture
AFAN laments late supply of fertilizers to farmers in Niger
All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Niger State has decried the late allocation of fertilizers by the state government to its members this year, adding that it may result in low crop yields.
The state Chairman of the association, Alhaji Shehu Galadima, made this known on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Galadima said that the measure would affect their crops’ yields adversely because many of the farmers could not apply fertilizers to many of their crops owing to the high cost of the commodity in the open market.
In his words, “the fertilizers were allocated to the farmers after a breakthrough on the subsidy arrangement with a private partner.
“Honestly, the late allocation of fertilizers to our farmers is a problem to us, because the farming period is a seasonal thing.
“It is time-bound, in the sense that if you don’t cultivate a particular crop within the time, you are supposed to and apply fertilizer you will not get a good yield.”
Galadima said that the commodity was supposed to be made available early to enable farmers to utilize it to increase production.
“We still appreciate the recent allocation of fertilizers by the state government at a subsidized rate of N15,000 per bag against N16,000 to N26,000 in the market.
“Although the fertilizer came late, it will be utilized for the remaining part of the wet season and fully utilized during the dry season farming,” he said.
The AFAN Chairman urged the farmers to leverage the government’s gesture to purchase the commodity for the remaining part of the wet season and the coming dry season.
He said that the association was working with the government to ensure that middlemen would not hijack the ongoing sales of fertilizers to the detriment of the farmers.
“We want our farmers to check the various distribution outlets at the ward and local government levels to purchase their fertilizers,” he urged.
Galadima said that apart from the late allocation of fertilizers, many of the farmers had been displaced from their ancestral communities owing to security challenges.
Galadima said that the association plans to collaborate with the state government to make free inputs available to the displaced farmers.
He also called on the government to intensify efforts in tackling the security challenges to stop farmers from abandoning their communities.
Responding, Dr Idris Gbogan, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the government made early arrangements to assist the farmers with fertilizers at a subsidized rate.
Gbogan said there was still time for the farmers to apply fertilizers to some crops in the remaining part of the wet season.
He urged the farmers to take advantage of the late intervention to engage in dry season farming, adding, “it had been proven to be more lucrative to farmers than the wet season farming.”
(NAN)
The Borno Government has announced the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development to align its
Development strategy with Federal Government initiatives, and boost the state’s economic potential.
Gov. Babagana Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing in of two commissioners at the council chambers of the Government House.
Zulum underscored the importance of livestock and fisheries as vital sectors with untapped revenue potential.
He emphasised that the new ministry would focus on high-yield livestock breeds, milk production and fisheries, targeting both domestic consumption and export opportunities.
The governor said that “no state government can make substantial money in livestock alone, but we believe with the right investment and political will, the sector can generate significant revenue.”
He said that the growing demand for milk by yogurt companies and the proximity of Maiduguri to Asian and Arab markets, are great opportunities for dairy exportation.
The governor, therefore, assigned the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, to oversee the activities of the new ministry, citing his practical experience and passion for livestock development.
He said “livestock development is not just about academic qualifications, it is about practice and the deputy governor has demonstrated capability in that regard.”
According to him, the ministry will prioritise procuring high-yielding livestock varieties, enhancing milk production and creating sustainable rural projects to support
Local communities.
He said that projects in Mafa, Gajiram and in Southern Borno will soon be launched under the new ministry’s purview.
The governor urged civil servants and ministry personnel to take ownership of the new initiative, adding that the ministry’s success would contribute to the states
Long-term economic stability and self-reliance.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.
The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollars loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
NAN) reports that Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. is leading the team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum product from the facility after its rehabilitation.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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