Agric & Biotech

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says conflicts and adverse local weather conditions have continued to acutely aggravate and prolong severe food insecurity in parts of Nigeria and 38 other countries. The UN food agency also said the situations had raised the list of countries requiring external assistance for food, according to its new “Crop Prospects and Food Situation” report. ...

The Regional Centre of Expertise on Education on Sustainable Development (RCE) says Nigeria loses its forests at the rate of 11.1 per cent annually, making it the highest on earth. Prof. Albert Olayemi, the Focal Person of the RCE, made the disclosure on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State. He spoke while signing a ...

Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA), Dr Olugbenga Adeoluwa, says the EOA is collaborating with stakeholders for effective development of the value chain for organic produce. Adeoluwa, who said this on Friday, June 1, 2018 in Abuja, pointed out said that the EOA, in conjunction with the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria, would organise the 2018 National Organic ...

As the world observes the World Environment Day on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, the UN is also beaming the touch same day on illegal fishing as it commemorates the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. Fisheries provide a vital source of food, employment, recreation, trade and economic well-being for people throughout the world. In a world ...

Changing how countries across the world produce food is “fundamental” to protecting the future of the Earth’s ecosystem, said the head of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. With large swathes of the planet’s surface used to grow food, raise animals or produce products such as timber; the agricultural sector – if managed sustainably – ...

Up to 150,000 New Zealand cattle will be culled as the government attempts to eradicate the disease “Mycoplasma bovis”. Mycoplasma bovis is a bacterium that causes diseases in cattle including udder infections, abortion, pneumonia and arthritis. Humans are not at risk of infection. “This is a tough call – no-one ever wants to see mass culls,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ...

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has stressed the need for the government to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to properly drive change for country’s development. Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General of the agency, made the call in a presentation on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the 2nd National Conference on Science and Technology by the Faculty of ...

The Niger State Government on Friday, May 25, 2018 promised to pay its over N50 million counterpart fund in the ongoing National FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) (I) development project. Alhaji Haruna Dukku, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said this during a courtesy visit to the ministry by implementation support mission team of the “Third National FADAMA ...

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has signed a training agreement with the Italy-based International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to boost the capacity of its staff to properly regulate modern biotechnology in Nigeria. The agreement, which took effect immediately with a training session, aims to enhance the partnership between both organisations and grant NBMA access to the ...

It appears that in spite of the recent fracas between President Muhammadu Buhari and the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, there is one issue on which they agree – that Nigeria should adopt modern biotechnology as the solution to agricultural challenges. Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) however differs with both on the view that agricultural biotechnology will end world hunger. ...