Typology of farm households and irrigation systems: Some evidence from Nigeria
Irrigation is considered an important factor for agriculture and food security. Knowledge gaps, however, still exist with regard to how farmers in Africa south of Sahara, including Nigeria, are using irrigation. Given the diverse agroecological and socioeconomic environment in countries like Nigeria, understanding the diverse patterns of irrigation use and their associations with household characteristics is important in designing how irrigation can contribute to the agricultural read more...
Though there is increasing evidence of the availability and potential of new agricultural technologies in Africa south of the Sahara, effective demand for them is still low. A recent refocus on increasing farmers’ use of modern technologies such as improved seed and chemical fertilizer has led to a resurgence of input subsidies for these products in many developing countries. One popular mechanism currently in use is input vouchers. Targeted input vouchers are intended to simultaneously improve the targeting of subsidies and develop demand in private markets. While there is growing evidence of the impact of read more...
Source: Theodora Adene
Please join us for a preliminary research seminar (brownbag) presented by IFPRI Research Fellow, Dr. Hiroyuki Takeshima, titled "Nigeria’s Mechanization Gap: The current state of agricultural mechanization in Nigeria," featuring his recent work on the topic. The brownbag will cover regional trends in ag mechanization in Nigeria and lessons learned from Asia and Latin America. For the full abstract, see below.
Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Time: 2:00PM - 3:30PM read more...
Seminar Postponed: Gender-Differentiated Demand for Certificates of Occupancy in Rural and Urban Areas of Nigeria – Thursday, May 2nd in Abuja
It is with my sincerest apology that we are postponing the upcoming seminar, titled "Gender-Differentiated Demand for Certificates of Occupancy (CO) in Rural and Urban Areas of Nigeria: The case of Kano and Ondo states." Our presenter, Dr. Hosaena Ghebru Hagos, encountered an unforeseen scheduling conflict that will prevent him from presenting. He will return to Abuja in June and plans to offer an updated account of his research at that time. We will send out updated information on the seminar logistics in late May/early June.
Date: May 2, 2013 June (exact date TBD)
Time: 10:00AM - 11:30AM TBD
Venue: IFDC Conference Room
IFDC/IFPRI
No 6/Plot 1413 Ogbagi Street
Off Oro-Ago Crescent
Cadastral Zone II
Garki, Abuja
Nigeria
(Near old CBN building and behind Union Homes)
Upcoming Research Seminar – Monday, April 15th at University of Agriculture Makurdi ***Update: Room Change
The Institute of Food Security at the The University of Agriculture Makurdi and the Nigeria Strategy Support Program of the International Food Policy Research Institute to Present a Research Seminar on:
The Rice Economy in Nigeria
IFPRI Research Fellow, Dr. Michael Johnson, will present his working paper; titled "The Rice Economy in Nigeria." Please join us to learn more about IFPRI's current research on the policy and economic climate of rice in Nigeria. For the full abstract, see below. read more...
We are pleased to announce the release of the 2012 Global Food Policy Report. The report, the second in the series, reviews major food policy developments like new sources of agricultural growth, the outcomes of Rio+20 and the progress toward a green economy, the move from attention to action on gender, the prospects for youth employment in agriculture in Africa, the evolution of the US and EU support for their farmers, and the drivers of future global food security. Drawing on rigorous research and sound evidence, the Report discusses the key food policy developments that have contributed to or hindered progress in food and nutrition security and highlights emerging developments in 2013.
Of special interest to our readers:
Chapter 5: Employment in Agriculture - Jobs for Africa’s Youth
Chapter 7: Regional Development - Policy Choices on the Ground, Africa
To download the full PDF, Infographics, or charts and visit the interactive version of the 2012 Global Food Policy Report.
If you are a member of the media, please see our media highlights page.
Crime, Self Protection and Business Growth in Cote d'Ivoire
IFPRI-NSSP Program Leader, Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong, is holding a brownbag discussion of a paper he is currently co-authoring, entitled "Crime, Self Protection and Business Growth in Cote d'Ivoire". Please join us to talk more about how crime affects business growth in the long-term. For the full abstract, see below.
Date: March 14, 2013
Time: 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Venue: IFDC Conference Room
IFDC/IFPRI
No 6/Plot 1413 Ogbagi Street
Off Oro-Ago Crescent
Cadastral Zone II
Garki, Abuja
Nigeria
(Near old CBN building and behind Union Homes)
RSVP: Please email u.nischan@cgiar.org by Wednesday, the 13th of March to confirm your attendance
Abstract:
Cote d'Ivoire was considered an island of stability and economic prosperity in a region of stagnation, and political turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s. The situation was reversed in the early 2000, when a decade of political instability associated with poor economic performance led to a civil conflict. The conflict led to surges in crime and violence, which challenged the dynamics of the private sector development. The private sector is indeed the one that can lead this reconstruction by creating jobs and reducing the burden of poverty. We use a recent World Bank enterprise survey dataset and a quasi-experimental method to investigate the impact of crime and the provision of self-protection on businesses activity in Cote d'Ivoire. We find a mixed effect of the private provision of security: self-protection increases the profitability of firms while hampering their level of investment. The results imply that while businesses may be able to decrease the harmful effects of crime in the short run through self-protection, they cannot overcome the negative impacts of crime in the long run.
NSSP RESEARCH CONFERENCE: Informing Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda with Policy Analysis and Research Evidence
Held November 13-14, 2012
NSSP's 2012 conference highlighted the results of the program's research over the two years which have passed since its National Stakeholders Forum in 2010. The conference was intended to bring together policymakers, researchers, development partners, and other stakeholders to dialogue on the policy implications of NSSP's research and to discuss future directions for agricultural policy research in Nigeria. The conference was organized into sessions around important policy themes, such as the rice economy in Nigeria, agricultural input policy, capacity building, and current challenges in food security and nutrition. Each session consisted of a number of paper presentations followed by discussions of the papers.
We would like to thank all of our wonderful speakers and attendees. For those of you who were unable attend the conference or for those who would like to revisit the information presented, we have compiled the powerpoints for each session and made them available below. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like more information.
Food Insecurity, Livelihoods and Vulnerability in Nigeria
IFPRI-NSSP Post-Doctorate Research Fellow, Oluyemisi Kuku-Shittu, will give an overview of her recently completed report entitled "A Report on Food Insecurity, Livelihoods and Vulnerability in Nigeria". Please join us to learn more about food insecurity in Nigeria. For the full abstract, see below.
Date: February 14, 2013
Time: 2:00PM - 3:00PM
Venue: IFDC Conference Room
IFDC/IFPRI
No 6/Plot 1413 Ogbagi Street
Off Oro-Ago Crescent
Cadastral Zone II
Garki, Abuja
Nigeria
(Near old CBN building and behind Union Homes)
RSVP: Please email IFPRI-Nigeria@cgiar.org by Wednesday, the 13th of February to confirm your attendance
Abstract:
The Nigeria Comprehensive Food Security Vulnerability Assessment (CFSVA) was conducted in conjunction with the World Food Program (WFP) to increase understanding of the impact of food insecurity on lower income Nigerians in order to provide relevant information for policy makers on how to better address the root causes of hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability. This assessment relies on national household data from the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA).
Study highlights:
• Most Nigerians work in the Agricultural sector
• Livelihoods that are agriculture related are disproportionately poor
• Poverty is more prevalent in rural areas, and also in the Northern regions (particularly the North West and North East)
• There are major regional differences in educational attainment, in addition to large gender gaps in education in rural areas and the Northern regions
• Women in poorer wealth quintiles are less likely to breastfeed
• Very few Nigerians have access to proper refuse disposal facilities or to safe and hygienic sources of water
• Poorer households have reduced access to proteins (particularly animal based proteins)
• Huge divide exists between urban and rural households in terms of access to resources, living standards, and food security status
We Need Funds Not Phones, Farmers tell FG
Farmers across the country have criticized the plan by the Federal Government to distribute mobile phones to 10 million farmers. They described it as a misplaced priority. A member of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Delta State, Dr. John Akwara, said phones do not appear on the list of priorities of an average Nigerian farmer. He said, “What we need are funds not phones. We also need to see some sincerity in the people who are in the ministry of agriculture because they are fond of ‘cornering’ things meant for farmers for their personal use.
Lower Niger Basin Authority to Irrigate 4,000 Hectares
The Lower Niger Basin Development Authority says 4,000 hectares would be irrigated at the Kampe irrigation project in 2013 to boost food security. Abubakar Aduragba, the Managing Director, of the authority disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday. Aduragba said that paucity of funds had hindered the completion of the project in 2012 as scheduled. ''Four billion naira was budgeted for our projects in 2012 but N2 billion was released; we are still owing our contractors a huge sum of money for our own projects. ''Most of the projects we implemented last year were constituency projects, which are mainly boreholes and small irrigation projects. We hope to cultivate the remaining 2,100 hectares at of the Kampe irrigation project located in Kogi; we were able to cultivate 2,000 hectares last year.
Govt Unfolds Agricultural Sector Rescue Plan
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Akinwumi Adesina, has described the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) introduced in the outgoing year by the ministry as the saving grace for the sector in the period. At the end of the year review of the ministry’s activities in Abuja, he remarked that, “but for the GES, Nigeria would have seriously felt the impact of the flood disaster that occurred in some parts of the country.” With a strong determination to break away from the rot of the past and the ineffective, inefficient and corruption-ridden distribution of fertilisers and other government subsidised inputs to farmers, President Goodluck Jonathan mandated the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to come up with a mechanism that would be farmers-friendly and get the items directly to them. Therefore, the GES was initiated. The scheme, which was principally to deliver government subsidised inputs directly to farmers using their GSM telephone sets kicked off on May 9, 2012 in Ekiti State.
FG: Nigeria to Spend N23.4tr on Rice Importation
The Federal Government disclosed weekend that $150 billion (N23.4 trillion) will be spent to meet Nigeria’s annual rice demand by 2050 as the nation’s population and appetite for imported rice continues to rise. It also revealed that Nigeria currently imports five million metric tonnes of rice and that the figure will increase to an estimated 36 million metric tonnes by 2050. These revelations were made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) workshop on Financing Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution. According to the minister, “Nigeria is now the largest importer of rice in the world. As our population rises, demand for rice is projected to rise from the current level of five million MT to 36 million MT by 2050. Unless Nigeria begins an aggressive import substitution programme for rice, it will spend $150 billion annually importing rice by 2050 and the nation will be broke,” he said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government’s policy for now is to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by 2015.
Food Crisis Looms in Nigeria –Agric Minister
With a fast growing population that is outpacing food production, Nigeria may witness a food demand crisis within the next two decades, the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has disclosed. The minister, who made the observation in a presentation at the Capital Markets’ Workshop jointly hosted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this portends an irony as Nigeria has the capacity to meet and exceed local food demand.
According to the minister, the imminent food demand pressure on Nigeria is consistent with recent global trends that have caused major rise in demands for food and the subsequent increase in prices. “In the last few years, food prices have been soaring. This is stimulated largely by an increase in worldwide food demand,” Adesina said.
$500m Loan from AfDB Coming for Agric
The nation’s agricultural sector received a major boost yesterday as the Country Programme Officer of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Peter Sturmheit revealed plans to provide a credit facility of $500million to support small scale farmers in the country. He spoke at a stakeholders’ workshop on the formulation of the bank’s Assisted Agricultural Value Chain Income Enhancement Programme, in Abuja, adding that government requested the loan from the bank to further support its value chain. The loan, which is aimed at boosting farmers’ production capacity, is to be administered by the Bank of Industry (BoI).
Stakeholders Lament Budgetary Allocation to Agric Sector
Some stakeholders have described the N81.41 billion voted for the agricultural sector in the 2013 budget as inadequate, expressing worry over the commitment of the government to transform the sector. The Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Emanuel Bwacha and the Chairman, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) Senator Abdullahi Adamu who spoke at an agricultural show at the weekend in Nassarawa State said the Federal Government had failed to adhere to the Maputo Declaration, to which Nigeria was a signatory, that 10 per cent of every member nation’s budgetary allocation should be to the agricultural sector. Bwacha said: “If there is any sector begging for a rescue, it is agriculture. Recently the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, presented the 2013 budget for National Assembly consideration. When I heard the budgetary allocation for the agric sector, I was downcast. I was demoralised. In spite of the fact that there appears to be outward movement, yet it falls short of what is expected to make an impact in the agric sector.
Impact of Fertilizer Subsidies on the Commercial Fertilizer Sector in Nigeria: Evidence from Previous Fertilizer Subsidy Schemes
Under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), the government of Nigeria is implementing a new fertilizer program in which the government will withdraw from fertilizer marketing and distribution to promote the development of the private sector to take on these functions. We assess the impact of previous fertilizer subsidy programs on the private fertilizer sector as the basis for evaluating the new program. Using farm level data on fertilizer use in 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2010, we show that previous government fertilizer subsidy programs in Nigeria crowded out the private fertilizer sector to some degree. We find that one ton of subsidized fertilizer supplied by government reduced the demand for commercially supplied fertilizer by between 0.19 and 0.35 tons. The crowding-out effect of the subsidy was likely greater in states with higher state-level subsidy rates. Secondly, the subsidy reduced the open-market fertilizer price, possibly due to leakage of subsidized fertilizer into commercial channels. Thirdly, households which were likely to have access to subsidized fertilizer were closer to urban centers, as well as being headed by males with higher education. Finally, few farmers used both commercial and subsidized sources. Success of the new fertilizer subsidy scheme in Nigeria partly depends on effectively reducing the crowding-out of private input traders in the fertilizer market. This can be done not only through improved targeting of beneficiaries and ending the participation of government and its agencies in fertilizer marketing and distribution, but also by implementing effective complementary policies for enhancing the development of private fertilizer suppliers.
by Hiroyuki Takeshima, Ephraim Nkonya and Sayon Deb
Did Using Input Vouchers Improve the Distribution of Subsidized Fertilizer in Nigeria? The Case of Kano and Taraba States
Though input vouchers are increasingly being used as a mechanism to target subsidies in developing countries, limited empirical evidence of their performance relative to other distribution mechanisms exist. Consequently this study contributes to this scarce literature by comparing an input voucher program piloted in Nigeria in 2009 to the previous government led distribution mechanism. Input purchase experiences are compared when subsidized fertilizer was distributed through a voucher program or by the government. Using propensity score matching techniques, the study finds that voucher program participants received more bags of subsidized fertilizer than nonparticipants and paid a price significantly lower than the market price. However, they received their fertilizer later than nonparticipants and where significant had more underweight bags than nonparticipants. Given the costs associated with voucher programs, this study demonstrates when the distribution of subsidized fertilizer via vouchers improved farmers’ timely access to good and more affordable fertilizer.
by Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie
The Policy Development Facility is a DFID-funded programme working with key partners within Nigeria to improve evidence-based policy.
PDF is looking to engage a Senior Advisor on Food Security and Nutrition, to work within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). The Senior Advisor will act as the focal point for the Nigerian government’s efforts on food security and nutrition, harnessing government, private sector and development partner efforts to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity in the country. The Advisor will promote the recognition that the challenge is multi-faceted, yet paramount to efforts to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
For more on this announcement, click: http://www.htspe.com/1009142_FMARD_074.htm
Flood: Minister Dispels Fears of Famine
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, says crop loss resulting from the recent flood that affected many parts of the country is too infinitesimal to cause a food shortage. Adesina told an emergency meeting of states commissioners for agriculture on the national flood recovery production programme in Abuja yesterday that only about one per cent of the country’s total cultivated area was lost to the floods. He said this was calculated from the result gotten from the satellite imagery and remote sensing data of the International Water Management Institute, the world’s leading centre for water management and flood issues, which was engaged by the federal government.
The minister said government was determined to know “the extent of the flood; the extent of the inundation and how soon the flood water will recede for us to carefully plan our post-flood food production strategy.”
Flooding: Jonathan approves N9.7b Food Production Plan
To support farmers in flood-ravaged states, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N9.7 billion for execution of flood recovery food production plan. The plan, which involves the release of 40, 000 metric tons of food from the Strategic Grains Reserve to the affected families, will include provision of free seedlings and fertilisers to affected farmers.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this during an emergency meeting with Commissioners for Agriculture and Rural Development on the National Flood Recovery Food Production Programme in Abuja. Adesina said: “The real issue is how we compensate for the losses incurred. We have already put in place a flood recovery food production plan to support famers in the flood affected areas.
Experts Warn on Cassava Inclusion Policy
Does the Federal Government have the political will to enforce its decision to increase tariff on imported wheat flour? Some stakeholders are not convinced that the government has the will to execute the policy because it may be detrimental to the people’s well-being. To them, the 40 per cent cassava flour input is too high.
When former President Olusegun Obasanjo approved 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread baking, many who took the cassava bread then confessed that it was not delicious. Later, bakers sought a reduction in the cassava content of the bread. The government yielded to their request, slashed the percentage by half and eventually threw out the policy.
The federal government, on Monday, revealed plans to import 100 large-scale mills to boost rice production in the country. Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, while speaking at the National Agricultural Commodity Chain Development seminar, organized by the Ilorin-based Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), said the initiative was part of government’s commitment to meet its target of making the country self-sufficient in rice production by 2015.
Netherlands to Boost Nigeria’s Agric Sector with €20m —Envoy
Netherlands government has disclosed its interest to boost agriculture in Nigeria with €20 million so as to aid Nigeria in developing agriculture in its various value chains. Dutch’s deputy ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hans De Brabander, made this known during a visit of the Princess of Netherlands, Princess Maxima, to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Food Security: FG to Buy Farm Produce from Farmers
Farmers in states and parts of the country not affected by flood may soon be smiling to the bank as the Federal government has announced its plan to buy farm produce from them. This move, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is part of measures to ensure food security in the country. The government's decision was contained in a statement issued by Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, the Special Assistant to the minister, on Tuesday in Lagos. Adesina, at a meeting with directors and heads of departments in the ministry, said the ministry would adopt a three-pronged approach. "We will provide seeds and fertiliser to flood-affected areas to use when the flood recedes and provide seeds and fertliser for flood-affected states to provide in areas not affected. "Under the third approach, we will provide seeds and fertliser for states that are not affected to produce foods that we can buy to feed those in flood affected areas,’’ the minister explained.
Stakeholders Parley on Cassava Varieties
Chairman of the Cassava Farmers Association of Edo State, Dr Abdullahi Mohamed has alerted over the cassava drought in Edo State. He spoke at the Cassava Field Day organised by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State in collaboration with the Alliance For Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Harvest Plus. He urged that the Starch Mills factory in Anambra be extended to Umuahia for the processing of cassava because cassava has short post harvest life. Participants included cassava farmers, researchers, processors and stakeholders from the South East and South South geo-political zones.
FG plans Flood Recovery Food Production
The Federal Government says it has resolved to set up a Flood Recovery Food Production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas. Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this on Saturday at the 2012 National Agriculture Show in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa State.
The government's resolution follows concerns of likely food shortage as a result of flooding in the country. Akinwumi, however assured the country that it would not be plunged into food crisis or famine.
PrOpCom Drives Private Sector Tractor Services
Current policy shifts from the federal government through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda is gradually moving things in the direction of tractor acquisition in the country and would translate to more access by farmers. The present stance of the Presidency and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, on the Agriculture Transformation Agenda are encouraging signals that the era of public procurement of tractors might be over.
Mr. Emmanuel Ozoemena, Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist of PrOpCom, a development programme funded by UKaid, which first began to bring together key private sector players a few years ago, has declared. Ozoemena said this has led to the emergence a private tractor market in which FirstBank Plc, Springfield Agro Limited, the sole representatives of Mahindra tractor brand and the Tractors Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), a trade association of stakeholders involved in provision of hiring services to farmers are key players.
FG Plans Food Distribution, Employs Satellite to Monitor Flood
AS the nation grapples with the ravaging deluge in many parts of the federation, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has allayed fears of food shortages as the federal government is on ground to buy up food items from areas of surplus to ameliorate hunger in flood affected communities. Adesina revealed that in order to manage the flood situation in places where farmlands are under water, a team of experts from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka is already in the country for that assignment.
The Minister, who returned from on the spot assessment of Niger and Kwara States, in the first instance, said though there are challenges of feeding facing people in flooded areas, there would not be any need to be pushed into panic buying. He said, “there is a robust system to address the challenges arising from the floods, especially for emergency relief, food and shelter for displaced populations.”
Pathway to Cocoa Farmgate Prosperity
The cultivation of 114,000 hectares of cocoa with new hybrid cocoa pods developed by Nigerian researchers is the plank on which the fresh initiative to double production to 500,000 metric tons by 2015 would rest. Hitherto, the present production volume of 250,000 metric tons has largely been without any value addition and robs the nation of valuable foreign exchange.
The facts came up at the 1st International Cocoa Conference holding at Ibadan, Oyo State as Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development addressed the confab in a keynote address. Represented by Dr. Talabi Odeyemi, who is a director in the Ministry, the Minister called for increased effort toward adding value to cocoa during processing to fully exploit the economic possibilities along the value chain.
Job Summary:
Within the framework of the Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP), IFPRI seeks a qualified candidate to serve as Research Assistant (RA) / Senior Research Assistant (SRA) to provide research, capacity strengthening, and communications support to its activities. The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the NSSP Program Leader, but will be employed directly by IFPRI’s organizational host in Nigeria, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). The final position title will be determined based on the candidate’s level of experience. Interested applicants must have work authorization in Nigeria.
Essential Duties:
- Perform various tasks involving data collection, data maintenance, and data analysis using statistical software and other computer programs
- Conduct literature review and synthesis analysis
- Assist in the preparation of NSSP background papers, discussion papers, project research reports, donors reports, policy briefs and briefing notes for dissemination
- Assist senior researchers in undertaking IFPRI research programs or projects
- Assist in the internal and external communication of NSSP activities and outputs
- Assist with implementation of capacity strengthening activities and workshops/seminars/ and conference
- Perform some administrative activities related to IFPRI research programs or projects
Required Qualifications:
- Masters degree or equivalent in economics, agricultural economics, natural resource economics, environmental economics, statistics or related fields
- Experience in working on agricultural development, poverty reduction, rural development, natural resource management related research and policy issues
- Strong English writing skills and experience in preparing research and book reports for research team(s)
- Familiarity with development policy issues in Nigeria
- Familiarity with statistical software packages and internet-based systems such as SPSS and STATA
- Working knowledge of communication and policy research dissemination skills
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and produce completed products on time
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and knowledge of Access
- Self-motivated, innovative spirit and excellent interpersonal and team skills and the ability to work with colleagues from diverse cultures.
Interested applicants should follow the link below to apply. The deadline for applications is November 16, 2012.
http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH13/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IFPRI&cws=37&rid=1252
FG to Engage 1,500 Workers in Irrigation Project
Federal Government will engage 1,500 workers through the Integrated Irrigation Dam Project in Eyekonrin-Araromi, Kwara, an official has said. Alhaji Abubakar Aduagba, the Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Ilorin, announced this in Eyekonrin, Asa Local Government Area during the National Good Governance Tour to the project on Tuesday. Aduagba explained that the construction of the dam started in 2009 as constituency project of Mr Ayo Adeseun, a member of House of Representatives, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. According to him, the 1.3 cubic metre dam will also provide 5,000 gallons of water per day for the people living in the area.
Is Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector Improving?
As Nigeria’s agricultural sector becomes more intertwined with the national economic transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, it appears investment in the sector is occurring in a complex pattern that also involves investment within and outside the country. This multidimensional investment is having strong influences on the business situation in the sector. Apparently, the sector appears geared to witness accelerated growth due to renewed public investment and a strong private sector involvement. The sector’s growth will inevitably produce employment for the country’s teeming unemployed youths. Experts observe that before the April 2011 elections, Nigeria was already facing macro-economic challenges and a questionable model of economic development leading to decades of wasteful spending on food importation, incurring huge internal debt in the process. The Nigerian economy is confronted by lots of contradictions especially on food production and uncoordinated agricultural development policies.
Farmers Count Losses after Flood
Following the flood which ravaged Kogi State late last month, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have said crops worth more than N400 million were washed away in the recent flood that submerged farmlands in nine local government areas in Kogi. Dr Tunde Arosanyin, the National Financial Secretary of the association, who spoke on behalf of the farmers on Friday, said that about 2,000 hectares of food and cash crops, including livestock such as goats, sheep and poultry products, were washed away. Arosanyin described the loss as “monumental'', adding that of the 24 states affected by the flood Kogi was the worst hit. He expressed fears that there could be acute food shortage later in the year. Arosanyin, who was former chairman of the state chapter of the association, said it was no longer possible to plant crops this year as farmers had already ``lost the active season without hope of recovery''.
Farmer Seeks Ban on Rice Importation
Sani Nanono, a large-scale farmer based in Kano, has called on the federal government to ban the importation of rice in the country. Nanono, a former Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state, make the call on Tuesday, saying that there was a need to boost the local production of the commodity in the country. “There is no reason why this country should import rice because we have all the technical conditions to produce the commodity in this country. But because of some powerful interest groups, one cannot support the ban on importation of rice,” he said. According to him, Kano, Niger and Taraba states alone can produce all the rice needed in the country if there is seriousness and commitment by government.
Flood: FG Plans to Grow more Food through Irrigation
The Federal Government is working out a special food production plan to grow more food through irrigation in the forthcoming dry season. This is to minimise the effects of crop losses caused by the recent flooding that destroyed farms in parts of the country. Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who disclosed this during his tour of affected areas in Niger and Kwara states, said early-maturing maize seeds would soon be made available to farmers for planting. “We will also distribute improved high yielding varieties of rice, cassava and yam,” he said. He further said "while we sympathise with farmers in the flood affected areas, I want to assure them that we will do everything possible to make up for lost harvests through aggressive food production plan for the dry season. We will not abandon our farmers. “Government will put in place a 'flood recovery food production plan' that will include free distribution of improved varieties of crops and fertilisers to farmers in flood affected areas.
Ministry Embarks on Emergency Food Production
Following predictions in some quarters that the country may witness food shortage next year, after the flooding that destroyed many farmlands in the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has said it would embark on emergency food production. Meanwhile, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has called for the development of Flood Emergency Master Plan for the flood plains in Nigeria. Director General (DG) of the Agency, Sa?du Mohammed, who made the call at the second ARCSSTE-E yearly lecture organised by the agency yesterday in Abuja, called for a comprehensive mapping and inventory of all flood plains in Nigeria for proper planning, awareness and enlightenment of flood prone communities in the country. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, told the journalists that the ministry had already procured early maturing maize variety that would be ready for harvest within 60 days of planting, and would cultivate 8000 hectares of land. He maintained that the seeds had been procured and would be distributed for farmers to plant immediately the flood rescinded.
ABUJA - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on September 13, 2012 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman signed the MOU in Abuja with the Gates Foundation’s Director for Africa, Laurie Lee.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Gates Foundation to work closely with the Government of Nigeria and other partners to make some real gains in health and extreme poverty,” said Laurie Lee. “We want to see children, mothers and farmers in particular in Nigeria given the opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives.”
For more, click: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/new-office-abuja.aspx
Flooding: Food Scarcity Looms, Expert Warns
The unprecedented flooding sweeping across many states of the federation is a threat to food security in the country and a sign of possible food scarcity next year, the Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), Professor Paul Shaba Marley warned yesterday. Marley, a professor of crop production, told reporters in Minna, Niger State, that the floods have washed away many farmlands, especially in the North. He said the country should therefore brace up for possible food scarcity on account of the devastating effect of the flooding.
For more, click: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/flooding-food-scarcity-looms-expert-warns/
FG to Distribute Free Mobile Phones to 10m Farmers
The federal government, on Friday, said it was planning to distribute free mobile telephones to 10 million small holder farmers to fast track access to farming supports. Akinwumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this at the ongoing 2012 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Arusha, Tanzania. He said that the initiative was designed to start from 2013 and five million female farmers would benefit from it. Adesina, who was formerly the Vice President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the organisers of the event, said that financing was imperative if the agricultural sector must work.
For more, click: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/fg-distribute-free-mobile-phones-10m-farmers
AGRF Calls for Increased Investments in African Agriculture
AS fears of food security heightens in Nigeria following the devastating flooding in different parts of the country, how to scale up investment and innovation for sustainable agricultural growth and food security in Africa came into focus yesterday in this year’s edition of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) at the serene Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Arusha Tanzania. Some 284 delegates, 148 journalists and 1,200 participants from different parts of the world are attending the event which was officially declared open by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Driven by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, in alliance with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, NEPAD, Yara International, IFAD and a number of other donor agencies, the forum seeks to find solutions to the perennial problems of access to improved seedlings, extension services, fertilizer and other farming inputs as well as credits that are the bane of agricultural production and productivity in Africa.
