Agriculture

WOFAN Trains Women, Youth On Rice Processing, Value-Addition

Published

2 years ago

November 4, 2023

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WOFAN Trains Women, Youth On Rice Processing, Value-Addition

By Admin Nov. 4, 2023

The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) On Friday Commenced Training Of Women And Youth Groups On Rice Processing And Value Addition In Kano State.

This paper reports that the two-day training, which was supported by the MasterCard Foundation, aimed to enhance the skills and income of the participants in the rice value chain.

WOFAN Executive Director, Hajia Salamatu Garba, said the training was part of the organisation’s efforts to empower smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to improve their productivity and income.

“WOFAN has been working with the MasterCard Foundation to provide inputs, equipment, and extension services to over 40,000 rice and groundnut farmers in seven states of Nigeria.” Salamatu Stated

She also added that “The training was also aimed to promote food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, by reducing post-harvest losses, improving food quality, and utilizing rice waste.

She urged the participants to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired to their businesses and share them with other members of their communities.

The training covered various topics, such as rice parboiling, milling, de-stoning, packaging, branding, and marketing.

The participants were also tutored on how to transform rice husk into briquettes and other products, such as fertilizer, animal feed, and insulation materials.

The training was facilitated by experts from WOFAN, the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Speaking to SOLACEBASE the participants who were drawn from Zamfara, Adamawa, Nassarawa and Kaduna States expressed their appreciation to WOFAN and the MasterCard Foundation for the training opportunity saying it had opened their eyes to the potential in the rice value chain.

They said they were eager to start or expand their rice processing and value-addition enterprises and contribute to the economic development of their families and the nation.

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Agriculture

Tinubu

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1 month ago

April 20, 2025

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President Bola Tinubu

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Agriculture

New HJRBDA boss outlines ambitious agenda for agricultural growth, youth empowerment

Published

1 month ago

April 9, 2025

Admin

Rabiu Suleiman – Bichi, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), has pledged to deliver sweeping reforms across agriculture, water resource management, and youth empowerment.

This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Bichi spoke while addressing staff of the Authority shortly after taking over on Wednesday.

” Water Resource Management, 20% boost in water-use efficiency through Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and optimized irrigation systems.

” Agricultural Expansion, Increase coverage from 54,000 to 240,000 hectares, aiming to raise paddy rice production from 216,000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes.

“Dam Rehabilitation, Enhance dam water retention capacity via de-silting and other remedial actions.

” Crop Yield Improvement, 30% year-on-year increase in yields through modern farming practices and improved irrigation technology.

” Community Satisfaction, Target 85% satisfaction among local stakeholders through inclusive planning and comprehensive basin management strategy.

” Youth Empowerment

The administration will focus on training at least 5,000 youths across Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi States in areas such in Modern Irrigation,Beekeeping,Horticulture,

Greenhouse,Farming,Hydroponics and Fodder Production*

He explained that the training program will cover Technical Skills, Irrigation installation and maintenance ,Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Soil conservation and crop rotation

Others are Entrepreneurship Business management and market access,Community Engagement, Cross-cultural knowledge-sharing and cooperation.

The Authority will work with:

Bank of Agriculture (BOA),

-National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), NASENI and

Ministry for Livestock to support farmers and trainees.

The new leadership also pledged support for Her Excellency Mrs. Remi Tinubu’s “Every Home a Garden” initiative.

The Managing Director outlined plans for improved staff welfare and transparent postings, anchored on merit and bureaucratic standards.

The goal is to create a supportive environment that boosts morale, increases productivity, and fosters trust among employees

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Agriculture

SSSN to Honor Gov. Zulum, Agric Minister at Annual Conference in Kano

Published

2 months ago

April 8, 2025

Admin

The Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN) has announced plans to award the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, with membership honors at its upcoming annual conference in Kano.

Scheduled for Tuesday at the Bayero University New Site, the event will celebrate the outstanding contributions of both leaders to the advancement of soil science and agriculture in Nigeria.

Gov. Zulum is being recognized for his leadership in promoting agricultural initiatives, particularly in Borno State, while Sen. Sabi Abdullahi is being acknowledged for his national efforts to enhance soil management and promote sustainable farming practices.

Prof. Jibril Mohammad, President of the SSSN, made the announcement during a news conference on Monday in Kano.

This year’s conference holds special significance, marking the first time in 47 years that the SSSN’s annual conference will be hosted in Kano. Prof. Mohammad emphasized that the conference aims to explore strategies to improve soil science practices to enhance crop yields and reduce agricultural losses.

With the theme “Promoting Soil Health and Resilience Through Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development,” the conference seeks to advance soil science and improve food security across Nigeria.

“This conference will focus on developing strategies that contribute to sustainable agricultural growth by promoting better soil management practices,” he said.

Prof. Mohammad, who also serves as the Director of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture, noted that the SSSN is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct research and disseminate vital information on effective soil utilization and fertilizer application.

“The collaboration aims to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability,” he added.

Several other prominent Nigerians will also be recognized for their contributions to soil health.

The conference will feature sessions on a range of sub-themes, including Land Resource Assessment and Management, Soil Health and Nutrient Management, Soil Physics and Conservation.

Additional sessions will cover Capacity Building and Extension, as well as Cross-Cutting Issues and Advances in Soil Science Research.

Stakeholders from various sectors, including researchers, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners, have been invited to participate and present innovative solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector.