African Elephants May Go Extinct Soon If…….

African Elephants May Go Extinct Soon

The Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)has said Elephants are at imminent threat of extinction in Western and Central Africa. He made this known at the opening of the 69th week-long committee.

According to him, while a steady decline in poaching has been seen across the African continent since 2011, illegal killings of elephants remain at high levels that have been exceeding increases in population rates.

Reports say that in 2006, a surge began in the illegal killings of elephants, which culminated in 2011, when 30,000 elephants were killed on the African continent. This surge led to the beginning of a global effort to stop the trade of illegal ivory.

“In western and central Africa, we need to move very fast right now, so we need to move over the next year, two, three, four, five years, so it is not something you can wait and say ‘let’s see what happens.”

“..we need to continue to move right now, otherwise they are at threat of imminent extinction, which means in the foreseeable future, which means not too far away, a few years away. I can’t put a precise date on it, but you know it’s an imminent threat, and that is why we are saying, we have to go in there hard now,” CITES chief, John E. Scanlon said.

In more than 25 countries identified as being part of the illegal ivory trade as source countries, transit or destination countries, wildlife crime is now treated as a serious offense and not just a trade offence. Offenders risk facing years in prison for killing animals, buying ivory or facilitating its trade.

This has led to a steady decline in poaching, with a record seizure of illegal ivory by authorities and a decrease in its value.

But the situation remains bleak in countries with long-standing weak law enforcement, corruption and high levels of poverty. Transnational gangs can still recruit people to poach and send illegal ivory to destination countries.

CITES will also be examining during their week-long convention illegal trade in pangolin, the poaching of rhinoceroses, as well as the saving of totoaba and vaquita, two fishes close to extinction.

The illegal trade of endangered species is a black market estimated to generate $20 billion each year.

Reuters

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Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector Under Late Muhammadu Buhari’s Tenure (2015-2023)

President Muhammadu Buhari, promised in May 2015, when he assumed office, that his administration would promote self-sufficiency in agriculture and food production. The former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, described Buharism as a kind of bourgeois nationalism that is radical in the sense of being a progressive move away from domination by a parasitic elite, to one in which a nationalist and productive class gains ascendancy. Buharism also believed in its long-held principle argument against Naira devaluation as the means to improve Nigeria’s balance of trade. This is based on its premise that there are superior alternatives for relieving pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserve.

An expression of this was the appointment of Hameed Ali, a retired army colonel, as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, which enforced import restriction measures on 41 essential items. The reason was that the products could be produced locally and would relieve the pressure on the Naira. Some of the banned items were agricultural finished products like Rice, fertiliser, Sugar, Meat, Fish, and Poultry. This policy was also intended to create opportunities for local producers in the domestic market. While there have been highlighted successes, there have been unmet expectations, as well, especially where the projected increased production of the banned items and impact on agricultural development in Nigeria didn’t happen.

The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) was the main agricultural initiative of the government. It was formulated by the CBN and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015. The ABP aimed to provide farmers with agri-inputs in cash and kind. Included in this laudable initiative was also a scheme to connect farmers with off-takers, who would in turn pay fair prices. This Credit support was provided each year, ahead of the season, by the CBN and the farmers are expected to repay the obligation with their harvests, just like a contract farming model. About 4.2 million farmers are said to be registered on the programme, and participation is limited to only one hectare of farmland per farmer.

The focus of agricultural economics is mainly on increasing growth and productivity of farmers. The ABP was designed to focus on increasing the number of farmers. As existing progressive farmers are not allowed and encouraged to reach 5 hectares (highest class for small commercial farmers) there has been no growth, no increased income and therefore, no spending in the rural economies and, by extension, no employment and income for the rural poor. This policy has not reduced poverty.

The ABF scheme has not grown. One of the reasons for its lack of growth is the high rates of default in repayments from the farmers. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 76% of the beneficiaries have defaulted even though repayment can be made in kind, thereby limiting the tenor to one season. The IMF claims that the cause of default is because the recipients of the loans are not always well targeted. Corruption may have blighted the opportunity for the scheme to register experienced and committed farmers.

At the ABP launch in 2015, President Buhari was particularly hopeful that it would accelerate local rice and wheat production. Since then, we have seen an unprecedented increase in the production of rice and massive development along the rice value chain, with about 50 new large-scale milling factories established across the country. The success is impressive, and the country has benefited with sufficiency in rice, employment, and income for many tens of thousands through the value chain. However, the programme has failed to show any impact on local wheat production. The CBN has now succumbed to the age-old response of import substitution and political appeasement by launching The Brown Revolution. The Brown Revolution has to come under scrutiny because the CBN has spent over N40 billion for a one-season programme.

The CBN’s direct involvement in agricultural policies and implementation within the last 8 years is as a result of the emphasis of the Buhari administration on the conservation of foreign reserve through import restriction measures – a Buharism alternative to neo-classical economics. Agricultural developmental projects and programmes that came after the ABP, implemented by the government appear to have been an afterthought. The roles of developmental agencies and institutions like the Bank of Agriculture, may have been usurped by the CBN’s very direct involvement in their traditional roles.

Credit –

Gardening, News

FG, Partners to Spearhead 50 Hectares All-Season Farming in Katsina

The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with key partners to launch a 50-hectare all-season demonstration farm at the Sabke Dam in Katsina State.

This project, many say, is a major step towards utilising the dam infrastructure for all-year-round agriculture.

The partnership, signed during a formal ceremony attended by the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, lawmakers, the Sokoto Rima River Basin Authority, and private sector stakeholders including OCP Africa and The Infrastructure Bank, sets out a collaborative framework for the farm’s development.

The MoU defines clear roles and responsibilities for NADF, OCP Africa, the Katsina State Government (KTSG), and the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA).

The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, in his remarks, noted that the agreement is a concrete outcome of a strategic public-private partnership aimed at demonstrating the commercial viability of all-season agriculture using Sabke Dam’s irrigation infrastructure.

Speaking at the event, Ibrahim described the initiative as a proof of concept to show how water infrastructure can be optimised for modern agriculture.

He revealed that following a visit to Katsina State, the NADF decided to take concrete steps by first funding “very bankable technical and commercial feasibility for the optimisation of this dam.”

“While that is ongoing, private partners came to us knocking to say we are also interested in seeing how this place can be optimised. And that is why we are here today,” he added.

The farm will feature four staple crops — maize, sorghum, cowpea and soybeans — and serve as a live demonstration site covering the entire agricultural value chain, from land preparation to seed selection, soil nutrition, crop management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and market access.

“This model farm will showcase an outline of everything from proper land preparation through to seed genetics, plant nutrition, harvest and post-harvest, and hopefully a go-to market strategy,” Ibrahim said. He, however, commended the Katsina State Government for providing a supportive investment environment.

“We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation, not only for receiving us, but for making an investment-ready climate. The Katsina State Government is providing land clearing, mechanization and farm management support for this project,” he noted.

Ibrahim also highlighted the roles of the other partners. OCP Africa, as technical manager, has completed a full soil mapping of the Sabke Dam irrigable area and will lead the development of custom fertiliser blends aligned with specific soil and crop types.

“OCP has done a complete soil mapping and will now utilise that to showcase how blends should be put where they are in tandem with soil and crop type,” Ibrahim stated.

The Infrastructure Bank is acting as a financier for key inputs, while NADF will serve as the overall project manager.

Ibrahim was optimistic about the project’s potential to become a replicable model. “When the studies are out, we will not only have a reputable bankable study, but we will have a model on the ground to showcase,” he said.

While expressing support for the initiative, Governor Radda said: “When the idea of the project was introduced to me, I quickly jumped into it, given the fact that the chain of benefits it will have on the economy of our state and on the livelihood of our people,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of continuous agricultural activity: “We want to have activities in that project all year round, so that we keep our people busy, we keep our facilities busy, and we optimize the use of the resources spent to build that very big dam that has been left fallow for a very long time.”

Dr Alik Orevaoghene of OCP Africa said the farm would serve as a hub for capacity building. “The farm serves as a platform for teaching and for training smallholder farmers on good agronomic practices,” he said.

According to the MoU, OCP is also expected to provide quality fertilisers for the farm and for any out-grower schemes.

Abubakar Malam, Managing Director of SRRBDA, hailed the effort as a revival of dormant infrastructure.

CREDIT – Nairametrics

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Kogi Table Water Producers Decry Multiple Taxation

The Association of Table Water Producers in Kogi State, Nigeria, has lamented over what it termed excessive and multiple taxation by federal and state revenue agencies, which, according to them, has resulted in the closure of more than 36 factories in Lokoja alone.

In a release signed on Sunday by its state Chairman and Secretary, Mr Moses Momoh and Mr Sadiq Uteno, the association said the growing number of shutdowns had resulted in significant job losses and deepened economic hardship among its members.

“Our members are subjected to a plethora of taxes and levies, which include Signage fees, Haulage charges, Environmental levies, NASDRA certification documentation fees (N70,000) per factory and SON fees (N8,400) also per factory,” the group said.

Speaking further in the release, the group further listed emblem charges of N17,500 per vehicle, vehicle branding at N15,000 per vehicle, and a daily haulage fee of N1,000 per truck as part of the financial burdens crippling their operations.

The statement stressed that the cumulative effect of these taxes has led to a significant increase in production costs, making it impossible for many of its members to remain in business.

“For instance, the cost of a bag of pure water has skyrocketed from N150 to N400 due to these taxes,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the association has written several letters to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, appealing for relief and waivers on some of these taxes.

He added, “We urge the government to take immediate action to address this issue and provide a conducive business environment for our industry to thrive.

“We equally appeal to the government to review and rationalise the taxes and levies imposed on our industry, provide relief and waivers to help our members recover from the devastating impact of multiple taxation and also create a favourable business environment that promotes economic growth and job creation.”

The association, however, commended the governor for his people-oriented administration, expressed confidence that the government would favourably attend to their plea.

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is a listening governor who is more compassionate to the well-being of the people,” the statement added.

News

Tackling Food Scarcity: Minister Urges Adoption of Tech Innovations

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has tasked farmers and agriculturists in general to consider introducing technological innovations into their farming practices to tackle food scarcity in the country.

Kyari made the call on Wednesday at the ongoing 9th Annual Conference and 68th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities (ADAN), held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Speaking at the event which is being held at the Federal University of Lafia and tagged ‘Transforming Agricultural Education for Sustainable Food Security and National Economic Growth’, Kyari, who was represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture Extension, Ayodele Olawumi, assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to tackle food scarcity in the country.

Declaring the annual conference open, the minister noted that the Federal Government had initiated new agricultural innovations through the Renewed Hope Agenda, geared towards enhancing productivity among farmers, especially those in rural communities.

Kyari challenged the deans of agriculture at Nigerian universities to harmonise their curriculum in line with national policies to produce the next generation of agro professionals and innovators for sustainable food security in the country.

He stressed the importance of agriculture in achieving economic growth, maintaining that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu had prioritized the sector.

The minister, therefore, tasked all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to leverage the various policies and programmes of the federal government to address the challenges of food insecurity.

“Developing strategies to ensure food security through the promotion of training, research and innovative agricultural techniques, and enhancing agricultural entrepreneurship and job creation are some of the ways to modernise the agricultural sector of the country.

“Under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we will continue to work towards ensuring that Nigerians have enough food, through digital agriculture and the various technological innovations,” he added.

Speaking on the theme, “Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship Development for Agricultural Transformation”, the keynote speaker, Professor Abu Godwin, noted that the under-funding of agricultural institutions had severely constrained the institutions from developing world-class training and research capabilities.

He lamented that many faculties of agriculture operate with obsolete equipment and have poorly maintained laboratories and inadequate demonstration farms, which creates a sharp contrast between classroom theory and the reality of modern agriculture best practices.

Professor Godwin, therefore, emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in agricultural education to address the challenges of food security and national economic growth.

Also speaking, the president of the Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities, Professor James Joyeoba, lamented that the current system of agriculture education in the country is faced with significant challenges, hence the need for the urgent transformation of agriculture education to empower more Nigerians, especially the youth and women, with the practical knowledge on how to enhance crop and livestock production.

The vice chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, earlier in his welcome address, urged the participants to be innovative in sharing ideas in order to identify strategies that could help to improve agricultural production for food security and the economic development of the country.

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