Agriculture
Olam targets increased support for smallholder farmers to accelerate post-COVID-19 recovery in Africa
Olam targets increased support for smallholder farmers to accelerate post-COVID-19 recovery in Africa
As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic, Olam, a leading food and agribusiness, is deploying its expansive global capability to strengthen the livelihoods resilience of smallholder farmers in Africa.
According to a survey conducted by Olam to evaluate the impact of the outbreak on the African farming communities, smallholder farmers on the continent showed vulnerabilities to the shocks and aftereffects of the global disruptions on agricultural value chains.
The survey report which was presented recently, during a webinar themed ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Farming Communities Across Africa’, in partnership with African Business Magazine, revealed that 68 per cent of smallholder farmers reported a steep reduction in income as compared to before COVID.
The survey gave insights into other critical areas of the impact of COVID-19 such as production, food security, livelihoods coping strategies and children’s rights. It exposed adverse levels of food insecurity and locally adopted coping strategies amongst farming communities which have given rise to less nutritious diets, increased risk of child labour and the sale of farming and personal assets as a coping strategy.
The survey was carried out across 19 countries among 3,432 farmers globally, among whom 1,663 were smallholder farmers located in 7 African countries.
According to the survey report, 55 per cent of farmers surveyed in Africa said they had produced less on their farms in the past season; 47 per cent said farm inputs like seeds and fertilizers, were less available in the local market; 42 per cent said it was harder to find labourers; and 55 per cent said they had less money to afford farm inputs or hired labour.
COVID is also impacting farmers’ ability to consume an adequate diet. Three in five surveyed farmers in Africa said they had skipped meals recently or were eating less nutritious diets. Reasons cited included having insufficient food stored, or their food stocks becoming spoiled or infested.
The survey findings also pointed to worrying impacts on children’s rights, with one out of 3 African respondents (with children aged 15 and under) saying their children are spending more time working to contribute to household income. This may be driven by a combination of schools remaining closed, and the lower availability or affordability of farm labour.
Julie Greene, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Olam, stated, “Partnership between those in the private and public sector is essential to deliver some of the vital interventions urgently needed by African smallholder farmers, to improve farmers access to loans, labour and farming inputs, as well as income diversification support. Establishing a steady path to recovery will take time for the majority of smallholders. Our survey data strongly suggests that the scope of the actions needed to improve their outlook needs to be far broader, deeper, and more sustained than what we may have expected a year ago to prevent a downward spiral of economic uncertainty, low productivity, and food insecurity.”
Highlighting the various intervention programmes initiated by the agribusiness firm, Greene said, “Olam is directly supporting over 500,000 smallholder farmers on the African continent. The prevailing situations that are impacting farming communities have forced us to be more innovative. We are deploying digital tools to amplify our impact to help smallholder farmers gain access to vital agronomic info and advice. These digital tools facilitate market linkages for the farmers as well as deepening relationships along the value chain to boost productivity and raise incomes.”
The African agriculture value chain webinar provided an in-depth analysis of the survey conducted by Olam. It also presented a roadmap for investment in smallholder farmers across the continent. Debisi Araba, a member of the Malabo Montpelier Panel, moderated the webinar panel discussion that comprised Julie Greene; Ify Umunna, Co-CEO of Nourishing Africa; Jihane Ajijti, Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Delivery, OCP Africa; Kagwiria Koome, Manager, Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation and Samuel Dzotefe, Regional Manager for Agriculture and Agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The panelists provided divergent perspectives and proffered solutions to the impact of the pandemic on the livelihood of smallholder farmers across the continent. Kwagiria Koome advocated for investment in energy infrastructure to help smallholder farmers gain access to cold storage and rice threshing facilities. Ify Umunna advised the government to focus more on providing “enabling policies that are consistent, fair and engaging to help African entrepreneurs scale.”
Jihane Ajijti said the logistic system across the African market called for an overhaul, while advocating for fertilizer price subsidies and canvassing that the local agricultural value chain facilities should be revamped to boost local food production. Samuel Dzotefe echoed Jihane’s view. He emphasized infrastructural upgrade of the transportation, communication and energy supply facilities available to African smallholder farmers.
Agriculture
Boosting Food Security: Governor Lawal Launches Distribution of Fertilizers and Farm Inputs for Zamfara Dry Season Farmers
In a decisive effort to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen food security across Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has officially initiated the distribution of thousands of bags of fertilizers and other essential farming inputs aimed at supporting local farmers during the dry season.
The launch took place yesterday Thursday at the Fadama III facility of the Ministry of Agriculture in Gusau, which served as a symbolic venue for the Governor’s commitment to empowering local farmers and invigorating the agricultural sector an industry he described as the cornerstone of the state’s economy.
During the event, attendees witnessed the distribution of a comprehensive array of agricultural resources, comprising thousands of bags of fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. A statement from the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, outlined that this initiative is strategically designed to significantly boost crop yields, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote sustainable farming practices, particularly among smallholder farmers who play a critical role in the local economy.
The Comprehensive Support Package and farm inputs made available for distribution include:
-3,920 bags of NPK fertilizer: This balanced formulation is essential for promoting growth, enhancing root development, and improving overall crop yield.
1,956 bags of Urea fertilizer: Known for its high nitrogen content, Urea will be pivotal in optimizing protein synthesis in crops, thereby increasing yields.
3,920 liters of herbicide: These will aid in controlling weeds, allowing crops to access essential nutrients and sunlight without competition.
1,956 liters of insecticide: These are crucial for protecting crops from pest infestations that could threaten harvests.
3,920 sachets of seed-dressing chemicals: These will enhance seed viability and encourage strong plant development from the onset.
In his address to the beneficiaries, Governor Lawal reiterated that this initiative represents a fundamental element of a broader strategy aimed at transforming the state’s agricultural landscape. “Farming is not just a livelihood; it is the backbone of our economy,” he stated with conviction. “We have a responsibility to provide our farmers with the tools and resources they need to flourish.” He emphasized that the distribution of fertilizers and farm inputs is particularly targeted toward enhancing dry-season farming throughout Zamfara State.
A significant aspect of the Governor’s address was the recognition of the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) programme, which he identified as a foundational pillar supporting these agricultural initiatives. He highlighted the success of similar input support programs over the years that have benefitted tens of thousands of smallholder farmers by providing them with improved seeds, agrochemicals, and crucial agronomic knowledge.
“Through the NG-CARES programs, we have laid the groundwork for achieving remarkable improvements in the agricultural sector,” Lawal explained. “Combining these inputs with behavioral enablers—such as seed adoption, advisory services, and peer learning—has markedly elevated crop yields, increased farmers’ incomes, and enhanced food security within our communities.”
Acknowledging the various challenges that farmers face in the region, particularly those posed by insecurity, Governor Lawal assured the agricultural community that his administration is committed to a holistic approach to development. “It’s widely recognized that today’s challenges are heavily intertwined with security issues,” he remarked. “While we equip farmers with necessary inputs, we are also focused on fortifying the security infrastructures within our communities to ensure sustainable agricultural practices.”
He called for a collaborative spirit between the government and the citizens, urging farmers to fully exploit the opportunity presented by this initiative while remaining vigilant. “We must unite to secure our surroundings, cultivate our lands, and harvest bountifully to foster a prosperous Zamfara State,” he urged.
The Governor positioned this initiative within the larger framework of national development, expressing optimism that it would deliver the momentum needed for sustainable agricultural growth, not just in Zamfara, but as a replicable model for other regions of Nigeria. He stressed the importance of increasing local food production to diminish Nigeria’s current heavy reliance on food imports.
“We remain dedicated to leveraging these programs to sustainably produce food and mitigate our reliance on imports,” Lawal asserted. “Our administration is committed to collaborating with our development partners and the Federal Government to ensure the effective implementation of these developmental strategies for the comprehensive advancement of our beloved state.”
At the conclusion of the event, beneficiaries expressed their optimism that the timely provision of these essential farm inputs would enable them to maximize their harvests during the dry season, thus generating critical income for their families and contributing significantly to the regional food supply chain.
August 7, 2024, Owerri – NIRSAL Plc has completed a midyear training programme for lead farmers and extension agents in the Aquaculture and Cassava value chains across locations in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States. The programme, aimed at boosting farmers’ capacities to access and repay commercial loans, had over 2,000 participants, with state government representatives also in attendance.
As it continues to promote the Agro Geo-Cooperative® approach to primary production, NIRSAL primarily targets lead farmers with the experience and skill to share new knowledge with members of their various cooperatives for its training programmes.
In Imo State, where no less than 500 participants assembled in two locations—one urban and one rural, the focus was on efficient models for fish production. It was the same in Sokoto State, while the Oyo and Kwara outings focused on cassava.
Mr. Uche Agabige, Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, lauded NIRSAL for including Imo in this round of the capacity building programme, with the belief that it would complement local efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, said that the capacity development programme, which is part of the Technical Assistance offered by NIRSAL to agricultural value chain actors under its Technical Assistance pillar, was happening simultaneously in three other states spanning four Geo-political zones.
According to Mr. Suleiman, lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered at two urban and rural locations in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States, and they are expected to cascade the training to an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.
The NIRSAL teams received warm reception and commendations in locations, including from the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Akinyele Local Government Chairman in Oyo State, and the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Farmers’ Interventions, among others.
In addition to the formation of functional cooperatives with proper governance structures, the training programme also discussed readiness for possible protocol breaches and early warning systems. Participants who spoke after the lectures said that they were delighted at the new insights they gained, pledging to share same with members of their various cooperatives.
NIRSAL Plc is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established to de-risk agriculture and agribusiness financing in Nigeria, with a view to stimulating the flow of finance and investment into the Agricultural Value Chain from multiple sources. Logic for the Imo training exercise is provided by one of the five pillars of NIRSAL—Technical Assistance, under which value chain fixing initiatives are researched, developed, and promoted.
- Govt cultivating over 3,000 hectares for soya bean
- Govt giving seedlings, fertilisers, other inputs to 10,000 farmers
Food security remains a top priority for the Kwara government as billions of naira are invested in different agricultural initiatives this year, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said on Wednesday.
Abdulrazaq spoke at the government-enabled Kwara Youth Farm in Malete, Moro local government, where at least 1,500 hectares of land are being cultivated for soya bean production this farming season, while over 1,500 hectares more are to be farmed in the coming seasons.
The Governor was taken round the huge farm by Arowojobe Tolulope, the project manager, and Ibrahim Tunji Mukaila, the farm manager at the Malete Youth Farm.
“Apart from many other initiatives, this is to deepen our resolve on food security. I am here to see things for myself and to make sure that the right investments are put in place. I am on site to see that our investment programmes (in agric) are being implemented, and to see the challenges we are facing,” he told reporters on the sideline of the visit.
“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen; it’s very good. We need to do more, and we will continue to do more. This will lead us to a bumper harvest at the end of the season and prepare us for the dry season farming, during which we will certainly escalate things.”
The Governor’s tour of the Malete Farm comes as the administration escalates its support for farmers across the state.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently distributing seedlings, fertilisers, and other farm inputs to at least 10,000 farmers.
Recently, the state executive council approved N2.9bn worth of support for farmers — a few weeks after the Governor on June 26 launched the distribution of the fourth phase of agricultural and infrastructural assets under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, targeting over 600,000 beneficiaries across different categories in the 16 local government areas.
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