Cassava Leaf

Gari (Cassava) production

IITA video

Agribusiness Development - CAH Dronten University of Applied Sciences - Netherlands - MastersPortal.eu

Agribusiness Development - CAH Dronten University of Applied Sciences - Netherlands - MastersPortal.eu

Corporate Farmers Reality Tv show..

Poultry Feed Instructional Video

Cassava Harvester

CASSAVA PLANTER.

CASSAVA PLANTER -

Our students are agric entrepreneurs —Provost, FCA Akure

Our students are agric entrepreneurs —Provost, FCA Akure

ATA ’ll restore Nigeria’s lost glory - Agric minister

ATA ’ll restore Nigeria’s lost glory - Agric minister

Obasanjo Farms Documentary

The pig business..

YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA (1)

Poultry Farming

MY CASSAVA CAKE

Farm Africa 2012 - Cassava Making a Difference

allAfrica.com: InFocus » Tanzania: Can Agri-Business Address Poverty?

allAfrica.com: InFocus » Tanzania: Can Agri-Business Address Poverty?

allAfrica.com: InFocus » South African Farmworkers' Strike Ends

allAfrica.com: InFocus » South African Farmworkers' Strike Ends

Agri4Africa Latest Newsletter: C.F

Agri4Africa Latest Newsletter

Tony and the USAID involvement in Africa development

Tony Elumelu with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr. Rajiv Shah at the second annual meeting of USAID's Private Capital Group for Africa's (PCGA) Partners Forum in Washington DC on Thursday. The Partners Forum was formed to consult with the United States government on how to strategically increase investment and unlock capital for the socio-economic development of Africa.

Attracting Africa youths to agriculture: the way forward

Nigeria World News: Attracting Africa youths to agriculture: the way f...: The President of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) , Dr. Namaga Ngongi, was at the recently held international conference on ...

Innovative action plan for youth employment in agriculture

Innovative action plan for youth employment in agriculture

Nigeria: Netherland Invest Over 5 Billion Naira in Nigeria's Agriculture

The Netherlands is investing over 26 million Euros, over 5.3 billion naira, in Nigeria's agric business for thousands of Nigeria, the Dutch ambassador to Nigeria, Bert Ronhaar, has said.
Mr Ronhaar, who made this known when the special advocate on financial inclusion for development to the UN Secretary General Banki-Moon, Princess Maxima of Netherlands, paid a visit to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last night, said six million Euro is being spent on value-added chain for cassava thereby creating employment for 100,000 farmers.
"We are supporting the cassava industry and the small holder cassava growers in Nigeria with a contribution of six million Euros developing the value-added chain of cassava which results in creating employment and income for approximately 100,000 Nigerian farmers," he said.
"At the same time the Dutch government is supporting the coco growers in this country, the coco processing industry; it is also supporting the value-added chain in the coco industry. And the total amount invested in that programme which will last for over five years is approximately 20 million euro.
"It is not about money always. It is about the idea. It is about the drive, the experience with which we can help Nigeria.
"There is one other programme that will start in 2013. The programme is for nationwide public private partnership in agro-processing, in agriculture and horticulture. That will be implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center, IFDC, well known to many of you, I know. And that will be a few million Euros. We really hope that they will bring expertise together of Dutch industry, but not only the Dutch, but African and many more local companies."
Princess Maxima, who said she is in Nigeria for the launching of the National strategy for financial inclusion, said stakeholders including the insurance industry need to come in to make financial inclusion a reality and limit the risk the famers have to go through.

DAILY TRUST

Online Modern Farming: Fish

Online Modern Farming: Fish: A limbless cold- blooded Vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water. In internal resources of Bangladesh, 260 Specie...

Jobs at Tunlay Farms _ November 27, 2012 :: Jobs In Nigeria, Vacancies in Nigeria :: MyJobMag

Jobs at Tunlay Farms _ November 27, 2012 :: Jobs In Nigeria, Vacancies in Nigeria :: MyJobMag

Spinach samosas with Nigerian salad..yummie

Between You and Me.....: Spinach samosas with Indian salad: Ingredients FOR THE SAMOSAS   600g ...

Centre for Agricultural Media CAM

Center for Agricultural Media or CAM was initiated in Dharwad, Karnataka on December 3, 2000. This venture by like-minded development journalists in Kannada drew influence from pioneering farm journal Adike Patrike. The aim is to strengthen agricultural journalism in Karnataka and network similar initiatives. CAM has been organizing programmes regularly to establish link between media and sustainable development. In 2007, the Centre was registered

Kanayo F. Nwanze IFAD’s fifth President

Kanayo F. Nwanze began his term as IFAD’s fifth President on 1 April 2009. A Nigerian national, Nwanze has a strong record as an advocate and leader of change and a keen understanding of the complexity of development issues. He was elected President by delegates from IFAD’s 165 Member States in February 2009.
Mr Nwanze served as IFAD’s Vice-President for two years before taking the organization’s helm. During that time, he championed and led the implementation of key processes that have improved the quality of IFAD’s operations in developing countries.

Mr Nwanze has over 30 years of extensive experience devoted to improving the livelihoods of poor rural communities. Prior to his arrival at IFAD, he served as Director-General (1996-2006) of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) – a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) – and held several senior positions at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) from 1979-1996. He started his international career as a post-doctoral researcher with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) shortly after his Ph.D. (1975) in agricultural entomology from Kansas State University, Kansas, USA. Mr Nwanze is a member of several scientific associations and a Board Member of a number of institutions. He has received numerous prizes and awards.
Kanayo F. Nwanze

Daring Cassava bread♥ ♥ ♥(How to prepare it)

Between You and Me.....: Daring Cassava ♥ ♥ ♥: Cassava is a shrubby, tropical, perennial plant that is not well known in the temperate zone. For most people, cassava is most comm...

About CGIAR

About

Dr Silim Nahdy takes up his appointment as Executive Director of AFAAS

Dr Silim Nahdy, who was appointed to the post of Executive Director of AFAAS after a competitive international recruitment process, took up his appointment on 1 November 2011.
Dr Nahdy holds a BSc in Zoology and Botany from Makerere University (Uganda), an MSc in Entomology from Khartoum University (Sudan) and a PhD from the University of Reading (UK). He comes to AFAAS with a wealth of experience gained in a career spanning over 30 years and embracing university teaching, scientific research in crop post-harvest systems, as well as planning and managing national agricultural research and advisory services. He led the team that designed the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) of Uganda which he subsequently led as the Executive Director for a period of 10 years. Prior to taking up the NAADS post he was the Director of Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute – one of the Uganda’s premier research institutes.
During his tenure at NAADS he was at the forefront of efforts to mobilise agricultural advisory services (AAS) in Africa for purposes of sharing experiences, seeking common voice in agricultural development forums, and influencing national, regional and international policy agendas for enhancing the effectiveness of AAS.
Dr Nahdy was the inaugural Chairman of the Governing Board of the Sub-Saharan African Network of Agricultural Advisory Services (SSANAAS) in 2004 and continued to serve as Chairman through its transformation into AFAAS in 2006. Through his efforts, both SSANAAS and AFAAS were hosted and resourced by NAADS until funding was provided by the European Union to establish institutional and organisational structures in May 2010.
Dr Nahdy is currently the Chairman of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), the global body that brings together practitioners of AAS from all over the world.
At his inauguration, Dr Nahdy said, ‘I hope that my leadership will propel AAS as an organisation that enhances the networking of AAS actors for the purposes of contributing to continental agricultural development agendas – most notably the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

The Roles of Mass Media in Disseminating Agricultural Information to Farmers

The Roles of Mass Media in Disseminating Agricultural Information to Farmers in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area 0f Kebbi State: A Case Study of State Fadama II Development Project

 The study examined the roles of mass media in disseminating agricultural information to farmers in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area. Eighty (80) structured questionnaires were randomly administered to selected respondents from five districts participating in the State Fadama II Development activities in the study area. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The studies revealed that majority of the respondents are full time farmers and are having personal lands with more than twenty one (21) years of farming experience. The study further shows that access to mass media on agricultural information is through radio and television, and most of them indicated that the media sources are conventional, accessible and preferred to listen to the agricultural progammes in the night time (8pm -11.59pm).The respondents identified purchasing and maintenance of media source (television and radio) as their major problems. The hypotheses tested showed a significant relationship between farmer’s sources of agricultural information and relevance of information received in solving agricultural problems (r = 0.544, p = 0.290). Finally, it is recommended that more efforts should be intensified in providing more agricultural information to farmers through radio and televisions most especially during night time and local community viewing centres should be established by the government 

 B.Z Abubakar, A.K Ango, U Buhari

What the imminent rice revolution means for Nigerians

What the imminent rice revolution means for Nigerians

YOBLOCO AWARDS Celebrating Youths in Agriculture

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC/PAFPNET is organizing the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition (YoBloCo Awards).

This contest is launched in the framework of the ARDYIS initiative which aims to raise youth awareness and improve their capacity on agricultural and rural development issues in ACP countries using Information Technology.

This blog competition aims to:

• Put into limelight issues, successes and challenges faced by youth engaged in: agriculture in urban and rural areas;
• Encourage the production of information and the use of new information technologies by young farmers’ groups and organizations interested in the “youth in agriculture” question;
• Promote the sharing of information on the issues of agriculture and rural development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Future Farmers Network..Australia

As a result FFN was established in 2002, with the belief that it is not a shortage of young people in the rural industries, but a shortage of identified and communicated opportunities that is the major problem.

Key project deliverables:

• Successfully completed the 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' project to improve young people's connection with peak rural groups and provide a forum for increased discussion between young people in rural industries.
• The 'Building Our Rural Futures' project - a trial of a career mapping service to provide members with information about career and training options in rural industries.
• Initiated and delivered  the 'Think Big' interactive workshop for young South Australian farmers on the topics of agricultural value chains and marketing in agriculture.
• Facilitated the 'Youth Forum' to brainstorm methods of attracting young people to rangeland industries, including research, extension and rural sectors, at the Australian Rangeland Society 2008 Conference.
• Hosted the inaugural Future Farmers Week, with participation of over 400 young people in rural industries, increasing the leadership skills and experience of approx 20 young event hosts.
• Awarded  six scholarships to members (valued in excess of $15,000) to enable them to attend a range training and educational opportunities.
• Hosted 'Youth Agricultural Central' Australia's first rural, regional and state based youth groups forum developing collaborative approaches to meet the needs for the industries next gen.

Agriculture Trade Fair (Landbouw Vakbeurs Assen)

Agriculture Trade Fair (Landbouw Vakbeurs Assen) 15 - 17 January 2013

TT Hall Assen
Assen,The Netherlands 




Agriculture Trade Fair is known to be the largest and the most important show that dedicates itself in showcasing the agricultural equipments and services. The professionals belonging to this sector will get to exhibit advanced technology equipments which will benefit the professionals working in this sector. The exhibitors find this show to be the perfect platform where the respective companies can introduce their range to the present attendees. The visitors will get to see livestock and dairy machines, feeding and husbandry equipments, forage equipments and lot more other products.
Agriculture Trade Fair provides an interactive platform where the attendees can communicate with the exhibiting professionals personally and discuss about the recent innovations and policies added in the agricultural sector.

CIDA is Canada's lead agency for development assistance. CIDA's aim is to:

• Manage Canada's support and resources effectively and accountably to achieve meaningful, sustainable results
• Engage in policy development in Canada and internationally, enabling Canada's effort to realize its development objectives.

Want to know more about the structure and scope of CIDA? About the key policies that shape CIDA's work around the world? Curious to know where CIDA maintains a presence in Canada and what are the results of CIDA activities?
This section of CIDA's website provides a number of windows through which to gain a better understanding of what CIDA is all about.
The Government of Canada is committed to making its international assistance more efficient, focused and accountable. A key element of this aid effectiveness agenda is transparency. As such, CIDA is fully committed to make public useful information to enhance its transparency and accountability

Funding Programs and Support

Funding Programs and Support

How to avoid failure in poultry business

How to avoid failure in poultry business
A must read for poultry owners

Pig Business

Pig Business | Food from Farms not Factories
read and learn the business...

YOUTH AGRICULTURE BUSINESS REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has earmarked 10 billion Naira for the Youth Agriculture Business Revolution in Nigeria (YARN). The Managing Director of the Bank, Mohammed Santuraki, explained that plans have been concluded for the lauching of the programme.

Santuraki spoke at the Bank’s Head Office in Kaduna, while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture.
has concluded plans to launch the Youth Agriculture Business Revolution in Nigeria (YARN) with about 10 billion naira. The Bank’s boss said the bank has granted a 5 billion naira loan to small-scale farmers this year while over 2 billion naira was given as loan to commercial farmers.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has stressed need to redefine the nation’s agricultural funding system and establish a framework that would support issuance of long-term funding to the country’s farmers.

Min. of Agric to give women phones!!

The Minister made this promise in Abuja at a forum planned to happen together with the annual global marking of October 16 as World Food Day.
Adesina said, the FG had made plans for the provision of 10 million cell phones to farmers next year, thus, the five million phones would come from the 10 million.
“First and foremost, we are going to distribute, for next year, 10 million mobile phones.
“And when I say we, actually, the Minister of Communications Technology is taking the lead in this, working with my ministry.”
“The Minister of Finance, as you know, she is always passionate about women, will do five million phones for women farmers so that we make sure that they get it.”
“And those phones are not just for inputs; it is that we want to get our rural folks to get market information, extension information, health information, climate information; all that in local languages on their mobile phones.’’
“Secondly we are working with mobile phone companies to expand the number of base stations they have in rural areas so we can reach a lot of people in the rural areas.”
“We found that one challenge was the issue of network coverage and that is a challenge we all face as a country; that the issue of connectivity reception in a number of areas has to be dealt with.”
“We also have a number of farmers that do not have phones, especially women farmers, and I want to make sure we reach those who do not have phones so that they could really be reached.”

How will we feed 9 billion in 2050?

The World Economic summit question preparing us for the year 2050.

Kantor Cabang

Kantor Cabang

Unity Bank Declares Support for Agric Sector

Unity Bank Plc has declaredits readiness to strengthen its support for the the farmers and make the sector more profitable.
This was disclosed by the North-west executive director of the bank, Alhaji Isamaila Galadanci, at the presentation of a brand new car won by one of the organisation’s customer in Jigawa state, Alhaji Abubakar Tata. He emerged one of the winners of the ongoing nationwide promo of the bank.
The director said, Unity Bank is always at people’s door to support their business and agricultural activities.
Galadanci added that, the bank has special packages for agricultural development and by the vast arable land he saw between Kano and Jigawa states, it is clear that, if the sector is properly funded it will address the problems of unemployment and socio-economic crises in the country.
The regional manager of the bank, Alhaji Lawan Bulama, said the beneficiary emerged winner at a national draw for the promo in Lagos.

says eat right

eat right with CORPORATE FARMERS

shake the hands of those that grows your food..

Dizengoff Agriculture

Growing More with Less - Supporting farmers across Nigeria

Dizengoff, with the support of our parent company, can boast unparalleled agricultural credentials, offering a total portfolio of the very best agricultural products and services. Our people can draw upon experience in large-scale commercial farming gained not only in the Middle East, Europe and North America, but across sub-Saharan Africa. Our team is headed by real farmers, with an unsurpassed working knowledge of the latest methods, yet with a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of local farmers in Nigeria.
Many of the large commercial farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are valued long term customers, who depend on us to supply a large range of mechanised equipment for land management and soil improvement. Dizengoff also provides quality agrochemicals for insect control, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and foliar fertilizers. We deliver the most modern technology and specialist services required to provide smart water solutions, water filtration and irrigation. Our dedicated after-sales service also covers genuine Massey Ferguson tractors and farming machinery,  Baldan slashers, Jacto sprayers, and other planting and harvesting equipment.
Dizengoff is committed to the most productive farming methods and animal health, providing the highest quality poultry equipment, poultry complexes, fish farming equipment, and piggeries. The company is particularly well known as a supplier of fish farm accessories, such as imported high quality fish feed, sorting nets, growth monitoring scales, and water testing kits. Our continually expanding range of full turnkey projects covers all aspects of rearing, processing, and storing livestock.
Dizengoff recognises the importance of adapting modern agricultural technology to the level of the rural farmer to enable Nigerian agriculture to increase its efficiency and quality of food production. Agriculture is relatively underdeveloped in Nigeria and we fully support government investment in this area, welcoming the opportunity to deliver innovative solutions and participate in new developments.

celebrates Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,

The mission of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria is to provide high quality practical training to students to become professionally competent and confident persons capable of self-employment to develop environment-friendly and people-sensitive technologies and to enhance the well-being of the people through extension and other interventions. By so doing, the Nigerian people and the entire world are being served.

celebrating Nigerian Agric Institution..FUNAAB

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State (FUNAAB) was established on January 1, 1988 by the Federal Government when four Universities of Technology, earlier merged in 1984, were demerged. This led to the creation of the first two Universities of Agriculture in Abeokuta and Makurdi.

On the same date, Professor Nurudeen Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe was appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University. Professor Adedipe officially assumed duty on January 28, 1988. For many years the date which Professor Adedipe assumed duty was wrongly adopted as the foundation day of the University. Following a revisit to the instrument setting up the University, a Council decision at its 53rd Statutory meeting in June 2010 reverted the foundation date to January 1st 1988 as prescribed by the law which established the University.

Prior to the emergence of UNAAB, the Federal Government had established the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta (FUTAB) in 1983. Then, in 1984, it was merged with the University of Lagos and had its name changed to the College of Science and Technology, Abeokuta (COSTAB), before the demerger of January, 1988.

The University started off from the old Campus of Abeokuta Grammar School, Isale-Igbein near the city centre. It completed its movement to its Permanent Site along Alabata Road in 1997, in what has been termed the fastest pace of Permanent Site development in the history of Nigerian University System.

Agriculture Expo (February 12 – 14, 2013)..be there!!

Agriculture Expo (February 12 – 14, 2013)

US Africa Business Council will be bringing Farm owners and companies in agricultural business to the Agricultural EXPO in California. They can either be exhibitors or attendees.
As part of helping to promote agriculture in Africa, African attendees are encouraged to attend most of the events scheduled during the EXPO 
Target Audience:
•Individual Farmers
•Companies in Agricultural Business
•Agricultural Investors
•Banking and Finance of Agriculture Business
•Location – Tulare California (Attendees, over 200,000 people)
•General Entrance Fee - $15.00
•International Participations
A.With VISA – Non Refundable $ 1,500.00
A.Travel Package (See below)
B.Without VISA – Non Refundable $ 3,500.00
a.Travel Package (See below)
•Travel Package
A.Group 1 (No Fee)
a.Buy your own roundtrip airfare, accommodation, transportation
B.Group 2 ($ 6,500)
a.Agent does everything i.e.
i. Roundtrip Airfare (Economy)Upgrade at additional cost
ii.5 star Hotel Accommodation (5 days)
iii.Daily Breakfast
iv.Business Luncheon with Investors
v.Video Coverage
vi.Tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills
vii.Business proposal presentation to the right contact

The USA department of Agric for Corporate Farmers®

The United States supports the Nigerian Agriculture system
read more on : www.usda.gov

CORAF/WECARD

It all began in March 1987 with a meeting between the directors of fifteen francophone agricultural research institutions of West and Central Africa and Madagascar and their colleagues from French agricultural research institutions namely, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Office de recherche scientifique et technique d’Outre-Mer (ORSTOM) now the Development Research Institute (IRD). Together they formed the Conference of African and French leaders of agricultural research institutes (CORAF). The first Executive Secretary of CORAF was Bernard Bachelier and the headquarters of the conference based in Paris. It was during the third Plenary of the institution, held in 1990, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, that the decision to transfer the Secretariat to Dakar, in Senegal, was taken. Another decision, equally important, was taken during this third Plenary: to open CORAF to research institutions of English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries and to adopt the principle of regular scientific evaluation of scientific cooperation tools. Lastly, CORAF adopted the charter of Associative Research Networks and Base-Centres and opened up to policy and decision makers, following a Conference of Ministers responsible for agricultural research in West and Central Africa. In March 1992, the Conference was held in Dakar; the Ministers recognized CORAF as a sub-regional organization and approved its Strategic Plan. Four years later, in 1996, the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture in West and Central Africa followed suit by recognizing it as the technical instrument of its research policy. It was in 1995, that the research institutions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra-Leone, Cape-Verde and Guinea Bissau joined CORAF. Consequently, the institution became the Conference of Leaders of Agricultural Research in West and Central Africa. In February 1997, in Bamako, Mali, together with two other sister subregional organizations of sub-Saharan Africa, it established the continental organization, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). It was in 1999, that CORAF took on its present name: the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD)

OxfamNovib - Nigeria

OxfamNovib - Nigeria

CORPORATE FARMERS AGRICULTURE REALITY TV

join our world........
www.corporatefarmers.blogspot.com

Proposed Nigerian reality show looking to lure the youth back to farming

Reality television hit the mainstream about a decade ago with the launch of Big Brother and Survivor. Since then hundreds of reality shows have been created, from Keeping Up with the Kardashians to Donald Trump’s The Apprentice.

A Nigerian company, Hayzee Mind Concept, is now planning to launch a reality show where contestants will have to demonstrate their farming skills. The idea behind Corporate Farmers is to provide entertainment while showing Nigerian youths that farming can be a viable career. Hayzee Mind Concept hopes for the show to launch in the first quarter of 2013. How we made it in Africa asked Akin Alabi, CEO of Hayzee Mind Concept, about his plans for the show.

Give us an overview of Corporate Farmers and explain why you decided to focus on farming?
The concept came from a desire to do something new, something more creative in the agricultural media industry. We came up with something that will bring the African youth back to engage in agriculture, just like our forefathers cherished going to the farm.

 The main reason why we decided to focus on agriculture is because food is essential for our existence. Without it there is no life. So we decided the best possible way to encourage the youth is by combining agriculture and entertainment.
Tell us a bit more about how the proposed show will work
The show will feature 36 Nigerian youths (18-30 years) from all the states in Nigeria. Nine groups comprising of four contestants will each be allocated a plot of land. The show will run for 36 days. The selection process will entail an audition, which will be done by professionals in the agriculture industry.
Contestants will participate in a range of farming related activities, including poultry, snail breeding, fishery, piggery, etc. There will be an eviction process and the winner will go home with very rewarding prizes.
How would you describe the average Nigerian youth’s perception about farming as a career?
The average Nigerian young person’s perception of farming is rather negative because they are not well informed about agriculture. The government does not encourage the Nigerian youth to participate in farming. All that the youth is interested in is to go to the studio and sing or dance.

farmlandgrab.org | Why socially responsible investing should not be seen as a burden

farmlandgrab.org | Why socially responsible investing should not be seen as a burden

Kenton Dashiell of IITA

Kenton Dashiell is the Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Building. Dr. Dashiell received degrees from Purdue University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Florida in Agronomy and Crop Breeding.
He was the Soybean Breeder for IITA based in Ibadan, Nigeria from 1983 to 2001. While at IITA he worked with several partners in the National Agricultural Research Systems and other IITA scientists to develop soybean varieties with promiscuous nodulation, high grain and fodder yields, good resistance to pod shattering and several diseases. Some of these varieties were tested and released in several African countries and are now being grown by smallholder farmers. He was the Leader of the Grain Legume Improvement Program at IITA for many years and managed soybean and cowpea projects in several African countries. Before leaving IITA in2001 he was the Director of the Crop improvement Division. Before joining IITA in 2012 he was the Leader of the N2Africa Project based with CIAT-TSBF in Nairobi, Kenya. This project is working with partners in eight African countries to increase the productivity and nitrogen fixation of grain legumes. He was the Location Coordinator and Research Leader for the North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory at the USDA-ARS in Brookings, South Dakota, for 6 years and, the groundnut breeder at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, for 3 years.
At present his biggest interests include moving technologies that increase crop yields in farmers’ fields and improving the health and nutrition of African families from the labs and research fields to the end users, and building the capacity of the next generation of agricultural scientists, technicians, extension agents and farmers. He is always looking for new partners for IITA in the areas of agriculture, food, nutrition, and health.
For Further details, use:

Tony Elumelu Foundation Pioneers Fellowship Programme In Agriculture Ministry

Tony Elumelu Foundation Pioneers Fellowship Programme In Agriculture Ministry

The Tony Elumelu Foundation for Corporate Farmers®

The Tony Elumelu Foundation launches the Tony Elumelu Fellowship Programme with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture

Feeding the World, Africa | Economist Conferences, CEMEA

Feeding the World, Africa | Economist Conferences, CEMEA

IFAD boss advocates investment in agric R&D for African economic growth

IFAD boss advocates investment in agric R&D for African economic growth

Building corporate entre- preneurial mindset in farmers

Building corporate entre- preneurial mindset in farmers

‘Fresh agro tours necessary for agribusiness investors’

‘Fresh agro tours necessary for agribusiness investors’

I am fulfilled as a farmer, says microbiologist

I am fulfilled as a farmer, says microbiologist

‘Investment in youths, agriculture, way out

Two major directions by the Federal Government will determine its impact on the economy in 2012, a leading cleric and General Leader, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo Ni O, Surulere District, Lagos Dr. Gabriel Fakeye, has said.

According to Fakeye, who spoke on the religious group’s position on the economy in Lagos on Saturday, the Federal Government needs to invest on agricultural development to end youth unemployment in the country in the New Year.

Fakeye, who stated this during a press briefing, said Nigeria needed to return to its root for development to take place. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to give priority to the agricultural sector to provide employment for the youths.

He said, “Nigeria is like a house removed from its foundation, the collapse of such a house is inevitable. It is a pity that we moved from the initial foundation, which was based on Agriculture.”

According to him, the country must develop its human capacity to avoid importation of food products. He said that relying on other countries for food could not be the best solution to solve the problem of the masses.

“Nigerians are hungry, compared with what obtains in other nations. To boost our economy, we need to increase food production. Increasing import duty on rice to 100 [per cent cannot be a solution. Moreover, as those nations from whom we import are facing several production crises, e need to develop our own,” he said.

Specifically, he urged the Federal Government to restructure the agricultural sector to boost employment and export capacity.

“Our next agenda on the economy should be the revitalisation of our industrial sector. This will naturally serve the dual role of providing employment for our youths and also boost our export capabilities as a nation.

“The Federal Government should take drastic steps to make sure that Nigerians enjoy uninterrupted power supply, as this is the sure way to attract foreign investors and encourage local investors,” he said.

He also said the country needed to focus more on youth empowerment to secure the future of the nation and build personalities that will manage our institutions.

He said, “It is sad that this nation has over the years neglected its youths. They are the same people involved in armed robbery, terrorism, kidnapping and militancy. This has to stop and the first and most critical solution is the creation of employments for these youths.”

Corporate Farmers Reality Tv show hit your screen soon

SYNOPSIS

        Corporate farmers is the first ever Agric Media reality TV show from the stable of Hayzee Mind Concept of  which Thirty six(36) youths from the age of 18-30 within Nigeria through registration online in website www.corporatefarmers.com After which registered youth will be called upon for auditioning for Corporate farmers reality show to select the 36 contestants who will participate in the event that tends to bring back the dying habit of Agriculture amongst the youth in Nigeria and Africa..

Grow Africa

Washington DC, USA, 18 May 2012 – Over forty-five companies have committed to invest over US$ 3 billion in Africa’s agricultural sector as part of the G8’s New Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security initiative, US President Barack Obama announced today. The commitments were developed in collaboration with Grow Africa, an innovative partnership led by the World Economic Forum, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
“Today, I can announce a new global effort, bringing together all global players for a shared effort – African governments and donor countries, which agreed to align their donations, and private sector players, international as well as non-governmental organizations,” said President Obama, speaking at the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security in Washington DC, an event hosted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “We will stay focused on clear goals, boosting farmers’ income and helping 50 million people lift themselves out of poverty. We can unleash the change that reduces hunger and malnutrition. This is the new commitment we are making today.”
Heads of state and government from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Ghana also participated in the event.
The investments span different stages of the agriculture value chain across three African countries, offering the prospect of economic development as well as improvements to food and nutrition security. Currently, the commitments comprise a total of 63 Letters of Intent, with African businesses making up 21 of the signatories.
“These investments, developed through the Grow Africa Partnership, represent a big step forward for African agriculture and offer further proof that today the handshake has replaced the handout as the principal partnership model for the region,” said Josette Sheeran, Vice-Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
“Private-sector investment can accelerate growth in a way that benefits Africa’s smallholder farmers,” said Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. “Through Grow Africa, we believe it is possible to build a platform that will benefit all of Africa.”
More companies are looking to Africa for long-term investing.
“We are making a major commitment to invest in expansion of Africa's agricultural productivity and food security by providing crop nutrition and knowledge,” said Joergen Haslestad, Chief Executive Officer of Yara International.
“Africa has become one of our strategic growth regions and our aspiration is to contribute to the transformation of African agriculture,” added Michael Mack, Chief Executive Officer of Syngenta.
The Grow Africa partnership, convened jointly by the African Union, NEPAD and the World Economic Forum, works to accelerate sustainable investment in African agriculture to improve food security. The Grow Africa Investment Forum, held on 9 May 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, engaged over 270 leaders, including heads of state and government from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania, as well as leaders of African and global business, international organizations, donor agencies and farmer organizations. Seven countries showcased specific investment and partnership opportunities aligned to their national priorities for agricultural transformation.

Innovation in agriculture

The private market does a great job of innovating in many areas, particularly for people who have money. The focus of Melinda’s and my foundation is to encourage innovation in the areas where there is less profit opportunity but where the impact for those in need is very high. That is why we have devoted almost $2 billion to helping poor farm families, most of which are led by women, boost their productivity while preserving the land for future generations. Those funds are invested in many areas of innovation, ranging from sustainable land management, to better ways to educate farmers, to connecting farmers to functioning markets.
We do all these things with one goal in mind—helping people like Christina Mwinjipe, a farmer I met last year in Tanzania. Christina supports her family by farming cassava, a staple crop that provides a basic diet for more than 500 million people worldwide. (When dried to a powder, cassava is known as tapioca.) In the past two years, Christina’s crop has been invaded by two cassava diseases. The leaves of some of her plants are curled and withered, and covered in the white flies that carry mosaic disease. The roots of other plants are rotted by brown streak disease. Because of these diseases, she is depleting her savings to buy cassava to feed her three children. Her oldest son just passed his examinations to enter secondary school, but she doesn’t know where she’ll find the money to pay his fees. She is not sure what she will do about food when her savings run out.

The African Farm Radio

The African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) was a 42-month action research project implemented by Farm Radio International (FRI) in partnership with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The following are the results of this multi-year, multi country research project that are among the first in-depth studies of rural radio in Africa. The first report outlines our use of a newly developed methodology called the Participatory Radio Campaign. The second report presents our analysis of market information services (MIS) and their effectiveness on the radio. The last report presents our results from integrating newer ICTs with radio to create more effective farm radio programs.

IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Our award-winning research for development (R4D) addresses the development needs of tropical countries. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture.
We are a nonprofit organization founded in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported by several countries.