The recent approval of the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (popularly called beans) developed by the Institute for Agricultural Research, (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has continued to generate reactions, creating more anxiety than applause over the innovation. Recall that in late January, the Federal Government through a decision document issued by the National Biosafety Management [...]

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday opened a 200,000 capacity yam facility at the Zaki Biam International Market in Benue State. The market is assumed to be the biggest yam market in the world, accounting for about 70% of the yams cultivated in the country with over 200 trucks loading two million tubers of yams weekly. [...]

Hussain Ibrahim, Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), says his agency has developed technology to optimise kilishi production. Kilishi is a dried form of kebab made from cow, sheep or goat meat. While appearing before the senate committee on science and technology in Abuja on Monday, Ibrahim listed it as one [...]

  Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting fish and seafood trade. Future consequences will be far-reaching. Ahead of its yearly international conference to be held in Alexandria, Egypt, the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society has raised concerns on the impact of the pandemic on sustainable aquaculture, DANIEL ESSIET writes.   For the African Chapter of the World [...]

  Nigerian farmers were on the verge of planting the newly released Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea before the outbreak of COVID-19. The Regional Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr Issoufou Kollo Abdourhamane, speaks on the impact of the pandemic on the release of the cowpea variety. COLLINS NNABUIFE brings excerpts.   HOW has [...]

The federal government is to secure €995million worth of agricultural equipment for Nigerian farmers. These agricultural machineries comprising tractors and other agricultural machineries will be leased out to farmers. This is coming under the in-kind facility for agricultural mechanisation to develop agricultural mechanization, recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The in-kind facility is [...]

The rapid spread of the Coronavirus globally has taken a toll on the global economy, but non-oil export is soaring and providing a good return on investment. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria is witnessing an increasing demand for its agricultural products. With the increase in demand on non-oil export, the country’s over-reliance on crude oil [...]

Amidst the upsurge of the coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian food system would be strained in the coming weeks and months, some agricultural experts have posited. The experts, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, also suggested ways the country can navigate this period of uncertainty and ensure food security, especially in the light of the declining purchasing [...]

The Management of TIAMIN RICE LIMITED on Sunday disclosed that the Kano State government had directed them to shut down their factory over alleged air pollution which “aggravates Coronavirus patients” in the state. Tiamin Rice is a leading rice mill in Kano with 320 metric tonnes daily production capacity, and has well over 223 workers [...]

Rice ATMs- Machines that gives out free rice -- it sounds too good to be true. But these "rice ATMs" have been set up around Vietnam by the government to help those who need it most during the coronavirus pandemic. Vietnam has 265 cases of the novel coronavirus and zero deaths, numbers that are significantly [...]

Amidst the upsurge in the Coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations Food And Agricultural Organisation has issued seven key guidelines to maintain a healthy diet. The tips contained in a a 47-second video recently published on the FAO website succinctly explained diet practices to inculcate in order to remain healthy. According to the FAO, during this COVID-19 pandemic, [...]

Farmers and agri-business operators have commenced moves aimed at averting food supply crisis that may arise from the current lockdown in states following the outbreak of coronavirus. Operators under the aegis of Agric Bureau Association of Nigeria stated that it was time for all stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector to think about how to [...]

It Is No Longer News That Lagos, The Commercial Capital Of Nigeria Doubles As The Epicenter Of Coronavirus Infection In Nigeria With Over 65 Cases. Lagos State Has Enjoyed Huge Financial Donations And Other Forms Of Support From The Federal Government, Individuals And  Corporate Organizations Since The State Recorded Its First Case Last Month. Today, [...]

The Lagos State Government has set up makeshift food markets in some schools across the state to enable residents to have access to food supply. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, who stated this on Thursday, noted that the markets were set up to prevent panic buying among the residents following the directive of [...]

The Federal Government has closed Haufei Restaurant and Mall, a Chinese eatery in Lagos State, for refusing to serve Nigerians. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in a tweet on Saturday, said the staff of the restaurant, located on 33 Aboyade Close, Victoria Island, admitted that it was the business policy of the owners. [...]

  The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N10 billion for the completion of irrigation projects in Shonga, Kwara State. The minister of water resources, Suleiman Adamu, said this while addressing journalists after the meeting in Abuja. He said the ministry presented a memo to the council on the ongoing project in Shonga. "Council [...]

The Nigeria Customs Service, in Kano and Jigawa states, is set to shutdown supermarkets and shops found patronising foreign rice and other prohibited items. The agency, in a letter with reference number NCS/KAN/053/S.28 dated 17th February 2020 wrote to all supermarkets and shops in Kano and Jigawa states, directing them to stop patronising prohibited items [...]

Have you met the Governor of Cross River State, Professor (Senator) Ben Ayade? I have and nothing has made me more confident about the future of Nigeria like my encounter with the helmsman of the Nation’s Paradise. Compact, sturdy, and articulate, you see the wheels practically turning in his head as he patiently listens to [...]

  Fruit-infused water Keeping hydrated is not only good for quenching test but it also helps to keep energised and active through the day. Asides the option of water, there are other drinks and beverages that you can take to stay hydrated. The good part is that these drinks are delicious and healthy beverages that serve [...]

Technology is transforming nearly every aspect of our modern lives, and farming is no exception. Modern farmers have demonstrated a willingness to embrace inventions and new techniques. Here are seven emerging technologies that can literally change the agricultural landscape in the years ahead. 1. Soil and Water Sensors Perhaps the equipment having the most immediate [...]