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Visitors to the ongoing Paris International Agribusiness Show (SIMA) 2017 are being treated to delightful and new technological solutions in agribusiness that will shape economies in the future. Patrick Perard, President of SIMA Attended by the elite of the world’s agricultural sector, SIMA 2017 is host to more than 1,770 companies from 140 countries, 13 exhibition sectors and 300 international delegations. The agribusiness show will end on 2 March 2017. Patrick Perard, President of SIMA, in his welcome address at the Paris Nord Villepinte, venue of the show, said the trade show would help exhibitors across the world and all related market players in the sector to rise to the challenge of building a farming world with consistent results and greater sustainability. “This is a previously unimaginable opportunity to exchange technological ideas with agro-managers from all origins, study new profitable feasibilities, extend your business footprint and networks both in Fr

The Federal Government of Nigeria has set aside N112.2 billion as interest-free loans to 1.2 million Nigerians, including farmers, traders and artisans, under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). President Muhammadu Buhari The initiative which is a key part part of the federal government’s social investment programme will ensure that more than a million young men and women from all states of the federation are given loans for business purposes without asking for collateral. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja said, “Already, under the 2016 budget, over 20,000 Nigerians in about 14 states and counting have been benefiting from GEEP. ” According to him, beneficiaries will receive between N10,000 and N100,000 loan each with a one-time five percent administrative fee.

The Federal Government has said it will do whatever is needed to prevent an outbreak of famine in the Northeast of the country.  The declaration came on the heels of a global UN-supported humanitarian conference, hosted by Norway jointly with Nigeria and Germany this week, to seek the support of the international community in the effort to avert a looming hunger crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. Countries in the area include Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon but Nigeria is bearing the brunt of the crisis, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations (UN). Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who gave the assurance at the weekend in Abuja said, “There may be tough times, in view of activities of Boko Haram and other crises in other parts of the country, as people can’t farm. There may be food shortages and high prices, but government is doing its best to ensure that there is no famine in Nigeria.” Chief Au

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has said farmers in Nigeria are currently producing enough rice to satisfy demand for the commodity, adding that the country has no business importing rice. Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Addressing journalists on the sidelines of a retreat for directors in the ministry to discuss strategies for unlocking institutional tools for the implementation of the new agriculture sector roadmap – the Green Alternative, Ogbeh said he expects a total stop to the business of importing rice by the end of 2017 due to the abundant harvest of the commodity towards the end of 2016. Noting that the momentum is bound to be sustained in 2017, the minister said he is absolutely convinced that Nigeria will attain self-sufficiency in rice production this year because at least 50 additional rice mills will be added to the existing 110 in 2017, bringing the number of government-owned rice mills in the coun

The Kano State Government is considering the option of suing nearly 5,000 farmers who defaulted in the repayment of loans granted to them in 2016 under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Scheme. Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna, Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture, who disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto at the weekend said, Kano State guaranteed the N900 million loans for the farmers.  “Unfortunately, only four out of the over 5,000 beneficiaries have repaid the loans,” Gawuna said.  He said the state government is currently considering various options to recover the loans from beneficiaries while it cannot rule out the option of going to the courts. The commissioner said 500 hydraulic water pumps worth N45 million purchased by the state government had been distributed to farmers in the state for irrigation purposes, adding that ‎the state government is also keen to boost food production. “The state government ha

Kofi Annan, Founder and Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006) and a Nobel Peace Laureate will on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 address the audience at the 10th Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) 2017 in Brussels. Kofi Annan, founder, Kofi Annan Foundation Other confirmed speakers, panellists and respondents at the FFA2017 include Allan Buckwell, Director of the RISE study on CAP: thinking out of the box; Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director-General, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission (EU); Franz Fischler, President of the European Forum Alpbach, Chair of FFA2008-2014 and Phil Hogan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission. FFA Chair Janez Potočnik  Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, European Commission, Mari Kiviniemi, Deputy Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Giovanni L

Donors at a global UN-supported humanitarian conference, hosted by Norway jointly with Nigeria and Germany, have pledged more than $670 million to help avert a hunger crisis over the next two years and beyond in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The conference equally deliberated on the need to address longer-term development requirements and agreed to seek long-lasting solutions to the looming hunger crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), one of the UN agencies at the conference, warned that the humanitarian response efforts should be intensified to enable the people in the Northeast of Nigeria to return to a dignified life after the devastation wrought by the Boko Haram insurgents. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, said supporting farmers to cultivate food would help free many from being trapped in cycles of severe hunger. The World Health

The Federal Government has assured visitors to Nigeria on business and tourism that henceforth immigration processes will be less cumbersome and as smooth as possible. To back up its promise, the government has unveiled an action plan to improve ease doing business for business travellers and tourists. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Tourism According to the statement, the Nigeria Immigration Service has reviewed requirements for Visa on Arrival processes, Business Visas, Tourist Visas and Transit to make them friendlier. Details of the review are available on the Nigeria Immigration Service’s official website, www.immigration.gov.ng. The statement added that the measures fit perfectly into the 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business in Nigeria as approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Bu

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations (UN), has said the international community must urgently provide immediate emergency support of $30 million to countries in the Lake Chad Basin including Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon to help farming families get ready to plant in the upcoming May planting season and prevent them from slipping into long-term dependency on food aid. Nigeria, FAO said, is bearing the brunt of the crisis. The agency called on the international community to take urgent action to avoid a looming hunger crisis in Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva The looming hunger crisis which arose as a result unrelenting conflict and instability in the region threatens the livelihoods of millions of families who are dependent on farming, livestock and fishing for their food. The FAO, in a statement yesterday, warned that the food security situation in

The Taiwan Trade Centre in Lagos has announced that the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will lead a business delegation to Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria & Egypt between March 4 and March 18. The Taiwanese delegation will consist of 30 Taiwanese suppliers who will engage the local business community in a B2B event in Lagos, Abidjan, Algiers and Cairo respectively. The trade mission to Lagos will host interested businessmen on Monday, 6th March, 2017 at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja for business discussion and cooperation. Okey Enelamah, Minister of Trade and Investments A statement from the Taiwan Trade Centre said “With much enthusiasm, the Taiwanese delegation is looking forward to a long-term partnership with African companies. The Taiwanese suppliers will make every effort to forge mutual cooperation with African counterparts. “The group will be represented by companies from industries such as auto parts, electronic educational equipmen

Nigeria’s largest bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has announced plans to hold an agric expo in Lagos as part of its effort to promote agricultural business in the country. Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture The expo, which is the first of its kind being organized by the bank, has the theme of “Reinventing Agriculture for Sustainable National Development.” It will hold next month on March 14 at the Eko Hotels and Suites on Victoria Island. According to a statement signed by Folake Ani-Mumuney and Ezinne Obikile of First Bank Nigeria, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Mr. Okey Enelamah, Honourable Minister of Trade and Investments will attend the event as special guests of honour. Okey Enelamah, Minister of Trade and Investments Dr. Doyin Salami, Associate Professor at the Lagos Business School will deliver the keynote address at the high-profile event. First Bank of Nigeria (FirstBank) is Nigeria’s premier and most valuable banking bran