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The Federal Government has said plans are underway to restructure the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) as part of an effort to make it easier for Nigerian farmers to access credit facilities on offer in the bank.   Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who announced this at the Ministerial Press Briefing on the celebration of the World Food Day in Abuja, stated that the process of restructuring BoA has commenced. He explained that the bank will be reorganised to stimulate an increased interest of people in farming as a source of livelihood and for effective performance through the provision of credit facilities to agribusiness in the country. He condemned the high-interest rate charged on loans by commercial banks, saying that the agriculture sector cannot survive more years of lending money at 25 percent to farmers. Ogbeh said the vision and mission of the ministry include ...

The Federal Government will commence the establishment of cattle colonies next week in states that show interest in a major step to discourage open grazing. Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said open grazing was posing serious challenges and it “is not too efficient for the cattle’’. Ogbeh described open grazing as a `torture’ to cattle which usually do not enjoy long distance walks. He disclosed this during a visit to the Agriculture and Veterinary Complex of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria last week. “It doesn’t allow us to harvest milk; the cows are not well fed. What is going on is almost torture to animals. “If we can create a new environment for cattle, give them what they need, protect them from rustlers, the herdsmen will quickly discover that they are making far more money than what they are doing now,’’ he said. Ogbeh noted that the National Economic Council has set up a 10-member committee comprising the Vice Presid...

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has urged officers and men of the Nigerian Army to join other Nigerians and invest in agriculture.   Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ogbeh who gave the advise while speaking at a sensitisation programme organised by FMARD for the Nigerian Army in Abuja recently said, the ministry would love to see the soldiers participating actively in agriculture production and see agriculture as a business. “Food security is an integral part of national security; that is why the army, whose mandate is to provide national security, cannot afford to avoid attending to food security. “Active participation of the army can never be seen as an incursion into an unfamiliar ground but a step in the direction that agrees in principle with one of its core mandate, which is ensuring peace,’’ he said Ogbeh, who was represented by Mrs. Winifred Ochinyabo, Special Adviser to Ogbeh on Sp...