REGISTER FOR THE AGRIKEXPO YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE 2016
YOU WILL BE OPPORTUNE TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRIC TRAINING AND HAVE ACCESS TO
MINIMUM OF 7,500 FOR YOUR AGRIBUSINESS.
DATE: 26-28TH SEPTEMBER, 2016; VENUE: INT'L CONFERENCE CENTRE ABUJA,
FOR MORE INFO. CALL 01-4604871, 081-2259-5512

http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/agrikexpo-2016-training-and-loan.html?m=1

By Angela Oketch
Donors have been told this is not the right time to withdraw their HIV/Aids funding, with a warning that such cuts would see a "rebound in the epidemic."

The warning comes as HIV donor funding to support low- and middle-income countries decreased by over $985 million.

The decrease, which fell for the first time in five years from $8.6 billion to $7.5 billion, will specifically affect plans to reach more patients with lifesaving medicine.

A high profile panel led by UNAids Executive Director Michel Sidibe said the funding cuts come against the backdrop of new infections in adults and thus "going back will be a disaster."

He pleaded: "If we don't continue with global solidarity and shared responsibility, then millions of people will develop drug resistance. I do not see any country ... managing alone."

He said the world would lose all the investment it has made in the fight, adding that it will have to pay more later.

"We saw this with malaria; we reached a level where we were able to feel that we have defeated malaria. Today we have to pay more again because we stopped," he said.

At least 2.5 million people have been infected in the past decade, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2015 (GBD 2015) study, published today in The Lancet HIV journal.

"I am scared that today we are back in South Africa again in difficult times. The world is facing many other competing priorities like terrorism and migration," said the executive director.

Mr Sidibe said more young girls are being infected and it is a major area of concern.

He further said the decline in funding would risk the world plunging back to 16 years ago when hospitals were full of people dying of HIV/Aids.

"We were called to ensure that treatment could be made available for the people, at the time less than one million people were on treatment. Today, 11 million people are on antiretroviral treatment, "he shared.

South Africa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said despite the successes, the fight against HIV, Aids and TB is not over.

"Too many people living with HIV do not know their status. Too many do not have access to treatment. The rate of infection remains stubbornly high, particularly among the most vulnerable populations."

He said there is a need to ensure that adolescents and young adults, both male and female, receive information and advice on how to access condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis (which prevents HIV infection) and this would be affected by the slashed budgets.


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/global-aids-fight-jeopardised-by.html?m=1

I want to open a religious blog. mainly on christianity. can it be successful

Rome — New FAO report explores how wood products add to forests' role in carbon storage

When protecting forests, don't forget the trees.

Forests have an acclaimed role as a carbon sink needed to tackle climate change. Less known is how their contribution can be scaled up even after a tree has been logged.

A new FAO publication, Forestry for a low-carbon future: Integrating forests and wood products in climate change strategies, offers insights in how to catalyse a "virtuous cycle" that exploits the life cycle of wood products - ranging from home furniture to wood pellets burned for fuel - to enhance and even multiply the well-known ability of forests to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere.

"Forests are at the heart of the transition to low-carbon economies," says René Castro-Salazar, FAO's Assistant Director-General for Forestry, "not only because of their double role as sink and source of emissions, but also through the wider use of wood products to displace more fossil fuel intense products."

Forests do herculean work in locking carbon dioxide into leaves, branches and soils, while deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 12 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The relative speed and cost-effectiveness with which forests make their presence - or absence - felt is one key reason they figure prominently in the plans countries are crafting to meet commitments made in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Designed primarily for policy makers and experts but of interest to architects and the energy industry, the report - the fruit of innovative collaboration involving more than 100 experts - looks at how forests can be harnessed to the global climate change challenge.

Its guiding message is that optimal engineering of the carbon lifecycle of trees and wood products allows, over the long term, for sustainably harvested forests to complement and even enhance the climate mitigation benefits provided by conserved forests.

Using trees to shrink carbon footprints

Thanks to technological advances and cleaner, greener methods of processing, the industrial use of wood can contribute to shrinking carbon footprints compared to the use of fossil fuels.

Wood is the main solid biofuel, accounting for 69 percent of the world's renewable energy supply. It is the main household fuel for around 2.4 billion people around the world - more efficient cookstoves could lower the almost two billion tonnes of annual global carbon dioxide emissions they use to prepare food and drinking water.

Meanwhile, where forests are sustainably managed and relatively abundant, woody biomass - usually in the form of pellets, often made from recycled or waste products - can serve as a large-scale energy source. Promoting wood as a renewable energy source may seem counterintuitive, but 1.86 billion cubic meters of wood - more than half the world's wood output - is already used for that purpose, highlighting the potential gains from more sustainable management.

More directly, when wood is transformed into furniture, floors, doorways or beams to be used in construction, it does not instantly oxidize but continues to store carbon. FAO calculates that carbon storage by such wood products in fact offset nearly all of the GHG emissions related to their manufacture.

The net emission footprint of a wooden desk - especially an antique! - is lower than that of modern office furniture made of steel and plastic derivatives with fewer end-of-life disposal options. The same is generally true of many wood-based construction materials when subject to life-cycle assessments.

Fostering access to and adoption of "cascading biomass" options - for example, recycling wood used in construction for furniture or packaging and then again used as an energy source - could lead to reducing carbon emissions by up to 135 million tonnes as well as easing the need for landfills.

Today there is growing evidence that wood-based products are highly competitive


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/recruiting-lumberjacks-architects-and.html?m=1

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By Francis Arinze Iloani
Pensions currently being paid to retirees do not reflect Nigeria's market realities of goods and services to enable them survive.

Pensioners who spoke exclusively to Daily Trust called for increase in pension in line with soaring prices of goods in the market.

Mr. James Olukosi, a pensioner who retired in 1992 from the Federal Capital Territory Education Department, said his pension had not been increased in the last 10 years despite yearly rising cost of living.

Olukosi told Daily Trust that he started earning N800 as pension as at retirement and had only benefited from two increments in pension during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's regime.

"There is an existing policy on pension increment. The policy says once workers' salaries are increased, pensions must also be increased. It's been over 10 years since the last time my pension was increased," he said.

The pensioner said he has been managing the little that comes in monthly as pension but it could no longer meet even 50 per cent of his needs.

"I don't have alternatives. I rely solely on my pension. We still have pensioners who receive N5,000 monthly as pension. Can you imagine? The media should help us," he said.

He said pensioners are facing challenges with eking out a living as prices of goods in the markets are rising.

The retiree lamented, "You can't compare this year and last year. Last year was fairly better than this year. Prices have gone up. Things are not improving."

He called on the government to consider the plight of pensioners and look into their "tough" situation.

"It is an experience I have never been through before. In fact, I can't qualify my situation as at now," he said.

Another retiree, who is a member of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mohammed Suleiman, told Daily Trust that the condition of retirees was getting worse under the prevailing economic downturn.

"We are the most affected than people who are still working. Don't forget that our pension is fixed and little and most of us are too old to work again," he said.

Speaking on what has changed between last year and this year, Suleiman said he recently had to increase the amount of money for feeding in the house by cutting other costs.

He said he had to forego many things, including going for hajj this year in order to keep his family going.

"I'm making sacrifices. My wife is also making sacrifices. We have decided not to put pressure on the children because they are also facing their own challenges," he said.

He also joined in calling on the government to consider increasing retirees' pensions to mitigate their plight.
http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/retirees-demand-increase-in-pension-as.html?m=1

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having low traffic

they wont do that. unless politics

By Jimoh Babatunde & Victoria Ojeme

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Monday, launched a two-million dollars government’s agricultural and private sector strategy to promote the development of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.


Vegetable farmers at work
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms Maria Brewer, at the launch at the U.S. Embassy, Abuja said that the two years partnership was with two local companies including Babban Gona and Hello Tractor.

According to her the two partnerships aimed at increasing access to smart tractors, improved seeds, and profitable markets for over 45,000 smallholder farmers across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Brewer explained that under the first partnership, Babban Gona helps to address economy of scale problems for smallholder farmers by forming cooperatives called “trust groups. Over the next two years, Babban Gona will help more than 20,000 small holder farmers in five states increase yield and potentially increase their income up to 30 per cent. The success of this partnership will support Hello Tractors sales, while providing 115 young people with an opportunity to build businesses in providing tractor hiring services.

Access to tractor services

“Improved access to tractor services will allow 24,500 small holder farmers across three states to boost their productivity and gain higher revenues for their households,” she said.

According to her with these partnerships, the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation programme will provide training, financing, and mentoring opportunities to experienced entrepreneurs to young agricultural entrepreneurs alike.

The Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe at the launch commended USAID for its support for Nigeria at its critical moment. Ogbe harped on the need for investment in agricultural sector which he said was key to economic development.

“There is future in agriculture, if you invest in it you are securing your future, if we don’t invest in agriculture there may not be a place to call our nation in future. If we don’t deal with the food challenge, we will never be able to cope with the food challenge,” he said. The USAID Mission Director in Nigeria, Mr Michael Harvey said that under the Feed the Future initiative USAID partners with private sector to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

According to him through these partnerships USAID addresses development and business challenges by increasing access to improved agricultural inputs and mechanisation, better quality technical advisory services, and expanding market opportunities for smallholder farmers. “These partnerships capitalises on the untapped potential of youth in agriculture and helped build capacity of young entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth in Nigeria,” he said

The Chief Executive Officer of Hello Tractor, Mr Jehiel Oliver, said that through the partnership smallholder farmers would gain access to tractor services.

Oliver said that the collaboration would afford 100 youth entrepreneurs on the business opportunity of owning and maintaining a fleet of smart tractors.

He added that some 15 young technicians would benefits from trade skills to repair Smart Tractor. A representative of Babban Gona, Ms Chinwe Osuji, said that through the partnership the company would create positive impact for 20,000 smallholder farmers.

She said that the company addressed the challenge of small farmers by forming strong cooperatives called Trust Groups, which enable farmers to gain access to new markets and sell at premium.

She said that Baban Gona provided member farmers with services designed to optimised crop yields production costs, and prices of agricultural outputs.

She said that the model helps to increase profitability of smallholder farmers and contributes to household food security and improved livelihoods.


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/afdb-president-akinwumi-adesina.html?m=1

Does agriculture blog has future in nigeria. check out my blog. i need ur advice. http://agricng..com

By Itodo Daniel Sule
Lokoja — Over 5, 000 registered rice farmers in Kogi State are to benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) anchor borrower programme.

State Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Mrs Rabi Emaiku, made this known on Friday during a town hall meeting with Rice Value Chain Farmers and other stakeholders in Lokoja.

She said over 5,000 farmers in the state registered and completed the necessary documentation required by the CBN to qualify them for the fund.

Emaiku urged stakeholders to collaborate and ensure adequate rice production in the state.

She advised farmers in the state to make good use of the opportunity provided them by the Federal Government through the CBN to boost production.

"Our associations are ready to give our trust and support to the CBN, federal and state governments, and all other stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme in Kogi," she said.

The chairman also commended the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for his efforts and support to farmers in making the programme a reality.

State's Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tim Diche, who represented the governor at the event, said government was committed to food security.

The CBN representative, Mr Idris Usman, who is the Head of Development Finance, Lokoja office, said he was there to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by all stakeholders for onward transmission to the CBN for implementation.


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/5000-kogi-rice-farmers-to-get-cbn-loan.html?m=1



Source: Daily Trust

By @OlusegunMokuolu
Here is a compilation of pointers that show that you are attending a wrong church or that something is wrong with your church. Please note that the church is the body of believers and not a building, ministry or organization. I have only used the word church in a way today’s Christians would understand.
You pray in your church for your enemies to die. (Luke 6:27)
The messages in your church are about money and material success. (2Peter 2:3)
The church is about prophecy and miracles. (Matthew 7:22)
They bring comedians to entertain and ‘minister’ in the church. (Psalms 1:1)
They preach that fornication; adultery etc. will not lead you to hell but only reduce your reward in Heaven. (Galatians 5:19-21)
The Church is built around one man and not around Christ. (1Corinthians 2:2)
The Pastor sees himself as the owner of the Church. (1Peter 5:4)
They promote Church doctrines and traditions of men instead of the Word of God. (Colossians 2:
They do not preach against sin. (1Corinthians 6:18)
They do not preach repentance. (Matthew 3:1-2, 4:17, Acts 2:38)
Church meetings are about activities instead being about the teaching of the Words of Christ. (Colossians 3:16)
The Pastors preaches from his notes instead of his Bible. (1 Corinthians 2:1-4)
You are respected and prayed for by how much you can offer. (Acts 8:18-20)
The Pastor is only accessible to the rich and mighty (James 2:1-6)
The Pastor is more concerned about your money than your soul. (2Cortinthians 11:2)
Your preacher only uses Bible verses to support what he wants to tell you but cannot systematically teach you the truth from the Word of God. (1Timothy 4:2)
There is attention on the clothing of the ‘man of God’ and the equipping of the meeting house. (Philippians 3:7-10)
Soul winning has been relegated to the background. (Matthew 28:19)
They are calling you out to tell you your phone number and home address instead of teaching you the Word of God. (Ephesians 4: 11-16)
The overall goal of the Church is not to raise men to become like Christ. (Romans 8:29)
‪#‎OlusegunMokuolu‬ +2348186157852
NOTE: This was written in love not to criticize. I also do not need you to agree with everything but I stand by those words. Some churches are doing these things in ignorance. I pray these words would call them to repentance. There are also true churches that may fall into one or two of the above errors. They are still the church of Christ but they are called to repent.



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I am aware the importance of agriculture is well known as well as its benefits, so just to state but a few:
Agriculture is the world's largest industry. It employs more than one billion people and generates over US$1.3 trillion dollars’ worth of food annually.
Source of Livelihood: 70% of the people in the world directly rely on agriculture as a means of living.
Source of Raw Material: The main source of raw materials to major industries such as cotton, jute fabric, sugar and tobacco, edible and non-edible oils is agriculture. Processing of fruits as well as vegetables and rice husking also get their raw material mainly from agriculture.
Revenue & Foreign Exchange: Agriculture is the main source of national income for most developing countries, and most times export trade depends largely on agricultural sector. This demonstrates that agriculture products continue to be an important source of earning a country foreign exchange.
Food Security: A stable agricultural sector ensures a nation of food security. Food security prevents malnourishment that has traditionally been believed to be one of the major problems faced by most developing countries.
I believe you also knew:
10% of World’s gross domestic product is generated from agriculture, and
As at 2009, over 1 billion people were employed in world agriculture, representing 1 in 3 of all workers
In sub-Saharan Africa over 60 percent of the entire workforce are involved in agriculture
7.OH, lest I forget: Thailand's richest man Dhanin Chearavanont, whose net worth is rated US$ 14.4 billion, has his main background in farming and agro-product whilst Andrey Verevskiy is, the youngest self-made Agricultural billionaire born on July 25, 1974-Ukraine and had net worth $ 1 Billion as per March, 2013, Forbes.
So I can say for a fact “So long as man cannot live without food”, as long as Man lives; agriculture must live as well, making it imperative to think of Agric same as we think of our lives.
But beyond what you knew, did you also know:
Agriculture is up to four times more effective than other sectors in reducing poverty. Increasingly, the world is counting on agriculture to produce more nutritious food and improve the livelihoods of a booming population, especially the poor.
Africa boasts of 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land.
The current value of food markets on the African continent is estimated at $313bn and by 2030; the World Bank estimates that Africa’s agriculture sector could constitute a $1 trillion opportunity.
Before 2000, Sub Saharan Africa was a net exporter of food, but now the region has a food import bill of over US$35 billion per year and imports exceed exports by 30% with volatile global food markets making Africa more vulnerable.
“More than 200 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are jobless in Africa, and the figure is even higher when you speak of underemployment”. And yet “Agriculture remains the sector with the largest potential to help create wealth and lift millions out of poverty on the African continent if it is pursued vigorously.” Studies show that investing in agriculture pays. It could help lift 85 million people out of extreme poverty by 2024, provide jobs, and boost the continent’s economy.
Only 3.5 million hectares of the 240 million hectares suitable for wetland rice cultivation in Africa have been exploited and some African countries have most of their suitable lands uncultivated`, like Nigeria as at 2012 had over 85 million hectares of uncultivated arable land and Ghana has 336,000ha total lands cultivated for oil palm out of 1 million hectors lands available, utilizing only 10% of the potential lands leaving 664,000ha uncultivated suitable lands; twice much as existing cultivation.
The World Bank estimates that meeting the World’s vegetable oil demand in 2020 would require 6.3 million hectares of oil palm plantation; but using soybean oil instead would require an additional 42 million hectares (an area about the size of land.)http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/why-i-must-do-agric-african-youth_7.html?m=1

By Safina Buhari
An expert in feed resources and ruminant nutrition in the Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Dr. Suleiman M. Yashim, has called on government at all levels and other relevant stakeholders in the country to consider goat farming while resettling people displaced by insurgency in the North-east.

In an interview with Daily Trust at the weekend, Dr. Yashim said the call became necessary because of the prolific way the animals reproduce, saying goats are a class of animals that both women and children would find easy to tend.

The don noted that "if Nigerian government will be able to resettle Internally Displaced Persons giving each family two she and one he goats, it will empower them economically. They will restart their lives and it will help them cope with the trauma they have gone through."

Goat production provides ample opportunity for establishing cottage industries based on meat, milk and cheese including hides and skin, Dr. Yashim also said.

"The Red Sokoto has very good leather that commands a high premium in the international market. All other goat skins are equally in demand," he added. The leather, he said, is used to produce shoes, bags and other leather products.

The don explained that goats take about 12 to 18 months to reach maturity. They are weaned at about six months and the mother goat may immediately take in again. This is because goats are very productive and have high fecundity i.e. can produce twice a year compared to other ruminants, he further said.

Similarly, "goats are very agile and inquisitive and so they are generally better than other ruminants such as sheep and cattle in terms of resistance to diseases, except in terms of outbreak."

In addition, goats eat a wide range of grasses, leaves, grains, vegetables, tubers among others. They forage freely and could possibly thrive on any edible material, making them the best form of farming the internally displaced people could be resettled with, Dr. Yashim added. Generally, goat meat is widely accepted across ethnic and religious affiliations. It has a relatively low fat content and does not trigger allergic reactions when consumed.

Source: Daily Post

http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/resettle-idps-through-goat-farming-abu.html?m=1

One business which is thriving now is fish farming. This is because as more people are cutting down on eating red meat, they are going for healthier choices like fish.

A fish based business could easily generate good returns on investment. You could easily make a steady income from your home, using aquaculture fish farming techniques.

However, getting knowledge on how the business runs is very important.

A fish farmer and consultant, Muhammed Shuiab said before you go into fish farming, you need to determine whether you want to go into big or small-scale commercial venture. "Secondly, the pond system to adopt; whether it is a flow-through system or recirculatory system using either earthen pond, concrete, or plastic tanks respectively." Shuaib explained.

Getting knowledge

There are two types of fish farming, Shuaib said - the "nursery operations and primary operations. Nursery operations involve the inducement of the female fish to lay eggs which are then fertilised, incubated and hatched thereafter. The newly hatched fish are known as fries. These fries are then nurtured for between three to four weeks into fingerlings which are the size suitable for use in the fish grow-out operations," Shuaib explains.

In between the nursery and grow-out operations is the primary operation. The primary operation involves the nurturing of the three weeks old fingerlings for between one to 10 weeks within which they could grow into post fingerlings, mini juveniles and post juveniles. These can then grow between four to five months to a table size fish suitable for sale and ready for consumption.

If you want to start small, you can setup a fish pond right in your backyard. It is also possible to raise fish in a fish tank in your garage. You can easily get all the supplies you need to set up your small fish farm and start fish farming.

Water

"For fishes, water is life," according to Mr Felix Mbuk, another fish farmer.

"Water supply must come from a good source e.g borehole, tap or any spring of water that is flowing around your pond. This will help guarantee steady water supply for filling the pond and draining waste respectively. On my farm, I have a reservoir where I store water, so I don't lack water," Mbuk said.

Feeding

Again, feeding the fish is very important. "Without this, they cannot gain weight. And when they are hungry, they can become wild. So, you must have money for their food handy at all times. Fish feed is a very vital component in operating a fish farm. You must feed the fish to attain required weight gain," Mbuk said.

Capital to start

"This varies depending on the type of fish farming systems you are willing and ready to invest on. With a minimum of N150, 000, you can start the production of fingerlings to grow to three weeks then you can advertise for sale to other farmers to buy at an average price N30 depending on the size," Shuaib said.

Know your market

Once you know what your options are and how much money you need, the next step should be analysing the market. Who are your buyers? What type of fish is most profitable?

Profit

On how lucrative the business is, Shuaib says yes. "The average cost of fish in the market is N600, so if you have a pond and you are able to stock 10,000 fish, I guess you know how much your return on your investment will total up to. That will be about N6 million," he explained.


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/5-steps-to-success-in-fish-farming.html?m=1

By Hope Abah
Makurdi — Farmers in Benue State are currently groaning over the high cost of fertilizer in market, saying the government subsidised ones are nowhere to be found.

The state government flagged off the sales of fertilizer at a subsidised rate of N4,000 for farmers in the state in May this year.

Governor Samuel Ortom, while speaking at the launching of the 2016 cropping season and flag-off of fertiliser sale and distribution at Tse-Ukegber in Guma LGA of the state, had said the government approved a total of 5,100 metric tons of fertiliser which is equivalent to 170 trucks of assorted brands.

Ortom also said 10,000 litres of liquid fertilizer would be supplied directly to farmers by selected genuine and competent fertilizer vendors at 38 percent subsidy. He, therefore, urged farmers in the state to visit stores nearest to them in the 23 LGAs' divisional agriculture offices to purchase a 50kg bag of fertilizer at N4,000 or obtain a litre of the product at N2,000.

Daily Trust, however, reports that two months after the flag-off, the farmers have complained about non-availability of the input in their respective localities.

A yam farmer in Logo LGA, Tor Aca, said he was yet to get fertilizer at government's prices in his area. "We have not heard or seen anything of such. So far, we have sourced our fertilizer from the open market at N10, 000 per 50kg bag," he said.

Another farmer in the area, Sesugh Kivie, said he heard that the product was brought to the council headquarters at Ugba and sold at N4,000 but that it was not enough for majority of the people to purchase.

In Otukpo, Sunday Audu and Enokela Adah, who farm yam, maize and rice respectively, said they purchased different types of fertilizer at between N7,500 and N6,500 from the open market as the government subsidised fertilizer which initially sold for N4, 500 in the area was hijacked by some politicians who in turn sold it to farmers at N6, 500.

"Nobody is getting it here at the actual government subsidised rate," Audu said.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Aondona Hembe Kula, said the state government subsidised fertiliser brought to the local government areas were grossly insufficient to meet the farmers' needs.

Kula, however, expressed confidence that the federal government's agro support which would commence soon in the state, would bridge the gap and that the farmers would then get more than enough.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the state's Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ahantgba Ayati, said the non-availability of the fertilizer was caused by the suppliers who jettisoned their earlier agreement with the government.

Ayati explained that the suppliers wanted government to review the contractual agreement entered with them on the ground that the dollar had skyrocketed and they would not be able to supply the products on the initial terms.

"The government, however, considered that before it reviewed the contract, the planting season would have been over," Ayati said.

He added that those contractors who later agreed to bring fertiliser to the state on government terms were yet to supply enough due to the long Sallah holidays but expressed optimism that the product would soon flood the state in the coming week.

http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/benue-subsidised-fertilizer-cant-be.html?m=1

Breaking News: The Students Union Government of Kogi State University has blocked major routes linking the East to the North at the State Capital Lokoja, in protest of the 3 months industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi state University Chapter...
Details soon.
Kindly share..

Plantains are similar in appearance and requirements to bananas. They are taller and bear fewer, larger fruits which when ripe store thier reserves as starch, hence they must cooked before they are eaten.
Many varietes are grown in West Africa, but these vary in size, shape and number of fruits to the bunch. The best varietes in Ogede Senior, Paranta and so on.
Plantain is a staple food in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Dahomey and Liberia. It is eaten unripe by roasting it as thin slices in oil, and is known as 'Ipekere’ in Nigeria or by boiling it and then beating it into fufu. A flour rich in protien can also be made from plantain.
Suckers are planted at begining of the rains in deep holes 3-4.5m apart. The plants should be weeded for the first four months. It is advisable to plant in the month of June. It will bring fruits in next six months.A plant can bear fruits for 4-5 years.
Yield can be increased with organic manure or by the application of fertilizers. A mixture of 566 g each of sulphate of ammonia and triple superphosphate and 453 g of sulphate of potash applied to each plant every si x months during the first year after after field planting and every three months during the next three years has doubled yields in Kade, Ghana.
A heavily yield plant may have to be propped with forked poles. Yields of 700 to 100 bunches per ha have been recorded on Ministry of Agriculture farms in Nigeria.
Plantains are attacked by the same diseases and pests as bananas. The burrowing nematode atfacks its roots and rhizomes and will reduce its life span.
Fiels control is difficult. The use of disease-free planting mateeial is recommended. Infected Suckers can be dipped in recommended nematicides before planting.
I WISH U GOODLUCK IN UR PLANTAIN FARMING.


http://agricng..com.ng/2016/07/success-guideline-to-plantains.html?m=1

By Bernard Chiguvare

Zimbabwean awaiting compensation and unable to work.

Fidelis Pedzisai lost four fingers of his right hand in February while offloading grapes onto a truck on a De Doorns farm.
Pedzisai, who is Zimbabwean, says he is one of several Zimbabweans and South Africans working as casual workers at Nulli Secunda farm.

He says he was offloading grapes during the lunch hour when he was injured.

"The forklift machine went through my four fingers leaving all four separated by a very thin [tissue] of flesh," he says. "I struggled to get down from the truck until some of my fellow Zimbabweans helped me down."

He was rushed to the nearest doctor and sent to Worcester Hospital, where he spent four days.
Now he is unemployed.

"I do not know what to do because I can no longer look for any kind of job. It is very difficult for me to use the other hand."

He had worked for one month for R120 per day before the accident. The accident happened on a Friday and he was paid up to date, his money sent to him through another Zimbabwean worker.

"After two weeks, my brother contacted my employer but was advised that I should go back to Zimbabwe and he can not pay the compensation," says Pedzisai.
Legally entitled to compensation

According to the Industrial Health Resource Group (IHRG), a labour support organisation specialising in occupational health and safety, workers who are injured at work are entitled to money from the Worker's Compensation Fund, whether they are in the country legally or not
Bomeshia Retief from IHRG said workers could report an accident to the Compensation Commissioner themselves by filing a Notice of Accident and Claim Form accompanied by medical reports from a doctor and witness statements.
Pedzisai has not yet reported the matter to Worker's Compensation but his case has been taken up by Robertson Legal Advice Centre.

According to Candice Van Reenen of the Department of Labour, the owner of the farm, Artwell Van Reback is registered with Worker's Compensation. She would not give further details.
But Shirley Davids, a paralegal at Robertson Legal Advice Centre, said Reback had not reported the accident.

Contacted by GroundUp, Reback told GroundUp not to call him again, and to write "real news not nonsense".

Jan Madiega, deputy director of employer registrations and compliance in the Department of Labour, said undocumented foreign nationals were vulnerable if they were hurt at work. But, he emphasised, employees could report accidents themselves.

He said Pedzisai should complete a report on a form he could get from the Department of Labour website, and attach medical reports. Doctors should include pictures of the injured hand.

The department would send an inspector to the employer, he said.

"With or without the employer's compliance or cooperation, we will proceed with the compensation depending on evidence provided by the employee."

Madiega emphasised that Section 39 of the Labour act requires all employers to report all injuries that have taken place at workplace and also section 24 of the Health and Safety requires employers to report any injuries at work.

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bros help me out this was google reply on my blog. i want to build up. am a starter.

Dear Admin, how can i promote my agric blog and develop it. i need urgent answer. i started it a week and 4 days back. http://agricng..com

07019273483. agricng

Agriculture involves the following operations: the clearing of bush and the breaking up of surface soil, the sowing of seeds, the removal of the weeds from the farm, the harvesting and storage of crops which are disposed of by marketing and the breeding and rearing of animals.
All these operations can be done in a number of different ways which involves varying amounts of labour,time,expense and productivity.
Efficiency, or getting the greatest result for the minimum of effort and expenses is largely dependent on the application of scientific knowlegde. For instance, early in history of man, acquired scientific knowlegde from observation of everydat occurences, by experimation
Technology has enabled a good network of transportation to be established, so that food products can be carried to the markets and been sold at reasonable prices to the consumer, in spite of long distances from the urban markets.
The use of artificial fertilizers has been one of the greatest contributions of industry to modern agriculture. By the use of artificial fertilizers it has become possible to add plant nutrients to the soil where there is defiency
Weeds have been a problem on farms, especially among grain crops. The use of herbicides and the alternation of grain crops with root crops and green crops, commonly known as crop rotation, has helped to keep weeds within reasonable bounds.
This system is also a means of conserving soil fertility and diseases. Problems of soil moisture and aeration can be combatted through mulching, irrigation and drainage. The use of refrigeration has enabled the farm products to be stored for longer periods.
Early farm machines and appliances were simple applications of the principle of lever age and friction. For instances, spades and mattocks were used to stir and pulverize the soil. Flint knives were used to harvest ripe corn or grasses. Corn was ground to flour between stones. Stone axes were used to fell trees to make clearings for farming operations. Gradually, new designs for machines, and the knowledge of materials to make them, have influenced science and technology in the production of farm machinery; and modern farm operations have come to depend more and more on man inventiveness and less on his muscles. For example the tilling of soil has brought about the invention of farm machines such as ploughs, harrowers and ridgers.
In these ways, science and technology ensure adequate food supply and market distribution of food products, which are the main functions of agriculure in modern society.

Written by Yakubu Jimoh John.



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World Oldest Tractor is 70 years..


11:36
Wednesday 06 July 2016




HAVE YOUR SAY
Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the start of production of its famous Ferguson TE20 tractor.

On 6 July 1946, the first Ferguson TE20, affectionately known as the ‘Little Grey Fergie’, rolled off the assembly line at its former Banner Lane manufacturing plant in Coventry in the UK. The tractor was the brainchild of engineer and inventor, Harry Ferguson, one of the founders of the present-day Massey Ferguson.


Key to the global success of the tractor was its unique three-point linkage implement attachment system controlled by the tractor’s hydraulics. Designated the ‘Ferguson System,’ this effectively turned the tractor and implement into a single working unit, replacing the previous cumbersome trailed method of implement operation.

Acclaimed as one of the most important engineering developments of the 20th century, the Ferguson System produced major advances in the efficiency of food production. In doing so, it achieved Harry Ferguson’s lifelong ambition of helping farmers affordably mechanise all aspects of crop production to better and more economically feed the world. Rated at only 20 horsepower, the TE20 (Tractor England) was incredibly light and small, yet it easily outperformed much bigger units, and at much lower running costs. It provided the breakthrough on which agricultural mechanisation techniques came to be based throughout the world. Over half a million of these diminutive tractors were built at the Banner Lane plant between 6 July 1946 and 13 July 1956. A large number of them are still at work on farms and they are prized collectors’ items.

“We are immensely proud of this legacy of pioneering farm machinery technology,” says Richard Markwell, Massey Ferguson Vice President and Managing Director Europe/Africa/Middle East. “Massey Ferguson continues to develop Harry Ferguson’s vision with our clear aim to produce straightforward, dependable farm equipment which farmers can rely on to care for their vital crops and livestock. Today, MF has one of the strongest-ever machinery line-ups with numerous international awards to its name and growing market share.”

Massey Ferguson is a global farm machinery brand producing a wide range of tractors, harvesting equipment and agricultural implements. Its famous red-liveried equipment is distributed in 140 countries.



http://agricng..ae/2016/07/world-oldest-tractor-is-70-years.html?m=1

SUCCESS GUIDE TO WATER MELON PRODUCTION

BOTANICAL NAME: CITRUSLLUS LANATUS

Water melon are member of the cucurbitaceae family, which includes pumpkins and cucumbers. Individual plants produce both male and females flowers and fruit size varies from 2kg to 10kg depending in the variety

RECOMMENDED VARITIES

Charleston gray, jubilee and Royal Sweet.

SOIL REQUIREMENTS
Water melons grow best on sandy loam soil, which are well drained, when planted on very heavy soil water melons develop slowly and fruit size and quantity are usually inferior.

LAND PREPARATION
Foeld should be prepared thoroughly by ploughing and harrowing. Spacing:2mx1m at 2 seeds per hole

PLANTING PERIOD

EARLY PLANTING:Plant with the early rains in march and april

LATE PLANTING: Start with the late planting in August and September

DAYS OF MATURITY
It is usually 80 to 90 days for baby bush varities and 90 to100 days ormore for Larger varities

WEED CONTROL

Commence manual weeding 2 to 3 weeks after planting
Chemical weed control: Use Galex or dual as pre-emerge at the rate of 4Litre/ha

Use NP.K 20:10:10 Four bags immediately after weeding

HARVESTING

Determining optimum maturity of a water melon can be difficult, varies may differ in certain characteristics that indicate maturity.
An experienced person may identify a ripe melon just by glancing at the glossy rind surface.
A sharp knife should be used to cut melon from vies.

STORAGE
Water melons are not adapted to long term storage, storage for more than two weeks triggers a loss in flesh crispness.

BENEFITS
Water melon is delicious and extremely healthy.
it is rich in potassium


WATCH OUT FOR NEXT TALK ON WATER MELON.
Written by YAKUBU JIMOH


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HOW TO START COCOA FARMING

Botanical name: Theobroma cacao

Name:cacao

Cacao is believed to have originated in the hot,humid region near the source of the river Amazon in South America. It was introduced into many countries in West Africa during the nineteenth century, and it has become an important export crop of Ghana,Nigeria,Togo and Cameroon
Ghana,Nigeria,Ivory Coast together supply more than two -thirds of the world cocoa. Ghana is the most producer of cocoa in the world followed by brazil and Nigeria.
95% of all the cocoa produced in Nigeria comes from the south-western area of Nigeria.

The name cacao is used to describe the tree, while cocoa refers to the fruit or crop and the processed product.
The fruit is called cocoa pod.


PLANTING DATE:
Nursery is done october to January. Field(transplantong) between April and June

SPACING:
Nursery:20cmx20cm. Field 3mx3m

THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU VENTURE INTO COCOA FARMING:

1. Technical know how: You must have the knowledge aboit it, and specifically study much on it.
2. Land Preparation: The Land is cleared with cutlass, after which stumping is done. The land can also be prepared by ploughing and harrowing. Cocoa Plantedon flat lands does need ridges.
3. Climatic and Soil Requirement: Cocoa Plant requires 17°-20° temperature, rainfall 114cm-200cm per annum and a deep fertiled, fertile soil and well drained loamy. which is slightly acidic and can retain moisture.

USES
1.It is used for manufacturing of beverages.

MAINTAINANCE
1 Weeds, which are a problem for the first 4 years of growth on the field, should be removed.
2 Shade trees must be thinned and can be removed when the canopy of the cacao trees has closed.

Presently a kilo sells for #800. WATCH OUT FOR MORE. LET JOIN HANDS AND BUILD A GREATER NATION THROUGH AGRICULTURE.
Written by Yakubu Jimoh.
email me for the pdf or make request by commenting and put ur email.

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