Applications are now open for the 2025 KPMG Nigeria Graduate Trainee Programme. KPMG Nigeria’s graduate trainee programme invites recent university graduates to join KPMG in shaping the future. KPMG seeks individuals passionate about excellence, collaboration, innovation, and providing outstanding solutions. (more…)
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has distributed smart agriculture materials to beneficiaries of the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) 5-Day Empowerment Programme which took place at Al-Qalam University, Katsina, Katsina State.
NAVSA Programme is designed to accelerate massive job creation, economic diversification and growth, facilitate the integration of digital technologies and innovations in the agriculture processes and practices in order to significantly increase productivity, improve food security, ensure an eco-friendly agricultural practice, attract potential talents and youths into agriculture professions to maximize outcomes. (more…)
The Omor kingdom in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State has stated its willingness to work with the proposed smart agriculture project by Governor Charles Soludo.
This was disclosed by His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Chris Oranu Chidume, Eze Igulube, Eze-Anaukwu, of Omor Kingdom in an address during the ‘Omor-In-Focus,’ a ceremony that marks the beginning of the annual Ofala celebration. The royal father noted that the smart agriculture project would not only boost the productivity of the community, but also increase the GDP of the state and the country tremendously.
The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has unveiled the updated version of its mobile application platform, NISSAGRO mobile app (version 2.0), to help researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders provide appropriate services to farmers.
The South West Zonal Coordinator of NISS, Prof. James Alabi Adediran disclosed this during a training for southwest farmers tagged: “Training The Trainers,” at the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo State.
Federal Government has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to resuscitate meat haulage system in Nigeria by flagging-off distribution of refrigerated Meat Vans to Butchers and Meat Seller’s Association to commence the process of modernized meat haulage system in their respective States.
Speaking during the National Stakeholders Workshop on Meat Hygiene /Distribution of Refrigerated Meat Vans to Butchers and Meat Seller’s Association in Abuja recently, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said that the quest to address the issues concerning meat haulage was as result of concerns expressed for not ensuring safety of our foods which has caused huge amount of money in foreign exchange and has continued to limit Nigeria’s full participation in trade of most agricultural commodities outside the shores of the country.
He revealed that meat haulage was the act of transporting meat from one location to another, either within the abattoir premises or between the abattoirs in Nigeria today do not conform to global best practices that guarantees safety for transporters, the carcass and the consumers.
Abubakar pointed out that ‘’ the practice was undesired especially where carcasses had to be transported on wheel barrows ,open vans ,pick up vans , among others thereby exposing the meat to high level contamination and quality compromised’’.
Speaking further, the Minister stated that the ministry in collaboration with financial institutions and private investors expected that each state of the Federation would start with at least Five (5) refrigerated meat vans including the one that was donated free from the Federal Government through the Ministry.
Dr. Abubakar, therefore, noted that come May 29th, 2023, anyone caught transporting meat in contravention of the modern meat haulage protocols, would be left with no option than to have his/her carcasses.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe represented by the Director, Veterinary & Pest Control Services,Dr. Maimuna Habib said meat hygiene was an important aspect of food safety that should not be handled with kid gloves ,nothing that it was in recognition of the perishable nature of meat and meat offal that necessitated the need to improve on the operation of meat processing.
He pointed out that apart from the need to sanitize and bring meat haulage system in international standard ,the operation had the potential to create sustainable jobs to youths in Nigeria ,adding that it was worthy of note that ,few states and investors had already keyed into the roadmap that guaranteed delivery of safe and qualitative meat to consumers.
Umakhihe, however, noted that Ministry had contributed to the drafting of the National Food Safety and Quality Bill that had passed third reading at the National Assembly.
In his remarks, the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma commended the Hon. Minister for the laudable initiative and called for an urgent need to train butchers and Meat sellers Association.
Source: https://fmard.gov.ng/
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has assured of its readiness to partner Lagos State government in order to improve the distributing meat across the country.
Speaking during the study tour and stakeholders engagement to understudy the air-cool Meat vans from the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses to the various meat markets in Lagos State recently, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria and Director Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habbib said that “the objectives of the tour was to understudy the state air-cool Meat vans, the Abattoirs and the Slaughterhouses.
The International Monetary Fund has noted that the current food crisis ravaging Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries have been exacerbated by an over-reliance on food imports. This was according to a new report titled, “Africa Food Prices Are Soaring Amid High Import Reliance.”
The Washington-based lender noted that the staple food prices in sub-Saharan Africa were typically augmented by an average 23.9 per cent in 2020 to 2022, which was the most since the 2008 global financial crisis. The report showed that the increase was commensurate with an 8.5 per cent rise in the cost of a typical food consumption basket (beyond generalised price increases).
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), have converged in Abuja, to address the global issue of Food Security and Agricultural Development in the world, particularly among Member States.
Speaking during the Workshop held in Abuja recently, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said that the Workshop on Strategic Planning and Policy Development in Food Security would provide opportunity for dialogue and discourse on achieving a strategic food reserve system, increase production, mobilize resources as well as Food and Nutrition Security among Members.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said despite 2022 being a tough year for the agriculture sector, it still contributed 23 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter (Q3) of the year.
The NGF noted that excessive rainfall and flooding in 2022 further worsened the challenges facing Nigerian farmers. The forum stated this in a statement titled, ‘Nigerian Agriculture In 2022: The Ups And Downs,’ signed by the senior agricultural adviser to the NGF, Prof Abba Gambo, on Tuesday.
In a bid to enhance farmer productivity, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), has urged smallholder farmers to embrace new technologies at the disposal of the centre.
The Acting Executive Director of the centre, Dr AbdulGafar Rasheed-Kamal, made the call, while briefing journalists on Monday. He said that the centre had infact commenced the production of tractors and other farm implements for smallholder farmers. (more…)
