Crops - Agriculture

Agriculture

Ethiopia joined hands with Italy to transform agriculture sector

This partnership is seen as a strategic move to boost agricultural innovation.

The governments of Ethiopia and Italy has signed a partnership agreement in the agricultural sector.

Girma Amente, Ethiopia's minister of agriculture, and Italian Counterpart Francesco Lollobrigida signed the agreement on the margins of the United Nations Food System Summit, which is underway in Addis Ababa. The agreement is meant to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries and gives focus on modernizing the coffee development value chain, it was learned.

Girma stated during the event that the agreement offers a significant opportunity to harness Italy's vast potential among European nations in the modernization of the agricultural sector.

Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister of Agriculture, for his part, said the deal aims to transfer agricultural technologies.

Enhancing farming through global support

Federal Government’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity through support for smallholder farmers.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity through support for smallholder farmers, particularly youth and women, by expanding access to funding and modern agricultural inputs.

Speaking during a meeting with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario, Shettima highlighted the Tinubu administration’s strategy to transform the sector from subsistence to commercial-scale production. “We are focusing on increased productivity, resilience, and commercialisation, not handouts,” the Vice President stated.

He added that part of Nigeria’s plan includes scaling up existing IFAD-backed initiatives to reach more rural communities across the country. The Vice President also held high-level bilateral meetings with the heads of other major international development organisations, including QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

In discussions with the FAO chief, Shettima emphasized the importance of reviving the Lake Chad region—once a hub of agricultural activity—now under threat from environmental degradation, climate change, conflict, and humanitarian crises. “The revival of the Lake Chad region, which is being threatened by multidimensional challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change, humanitarian crises, and conflict, requires a multi-pronged approach, development initiatives, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure,” Shettima explained. He urged FAO to play a central role in supporting Nigeria’s Green Revolution Project and efforts to promote all-year-round farming in the region.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu commended the Tinubu administration’s political will, describing it as a “clear demonstration of committed leadership to transform Nigeria’s food systems.” He pledged enhanced FAO partnership and technical support. In a separate meeting with WFP’s Cindy McCain, Shettima expressed appreciation for the organisation’s ongoing humanitarian support in Nigeria. However, he reiterated the administration’s focus on long-term, sustainable solutions.

McCain responded by assuring WFP’s continued collaboration with the Nigerian government, especially in areas such as school feeding, nutrition, and support for displaced communities.

Navigate the new fertiliser procurement process

The procurement was carried out in partnership with the 23 local government councils.

In a bold move to strengthen food security and support farmers across the state, the Sokoto State Government has spent N5.3bn on the joint procurement of 105,800 bags of assorted fertilisers for the 2025 cropping season.

Ahmed Aliyu, Governor made the announcement on Wednesday at the official flag-off of subsidised fertiliser and agro-chemical sales held in Gwadabawa Local Government Area. The procurement was carried out in partnership with the 23 local government councils and includes NPK 20:10:10 and Urea fertilisers, which will be sold to farmers at a 40% subsidised rate NPK at N28,800 per bag and Urea (Indorama) at N29,800.

Aliyu also revealed that the government had procured 12,800 bags of improved seeds including Millet Super Sosat, Maize Hybrid, Cowpea, Sorghum, and Rice Faro 44, at a cost of N60mn, alongside herbicides and insecticides valued at N36.65mn.

He emphasised that the initiative aims to ensure timely access to quality inputs, improve productivity, and drive the transition toward mechanised farming in the state. As part of broader interventions, the governor disclosed that a contract worth N22.1bn has been awarded for the supply of 250 units of Massey Ferguson MF-375 tractors, while plans are underway to procure tiller machines to support smallholder farmers.

To boost year-round cultivation, Aliyu also announced the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of Lugu Dam and Kware irrigation facilities.While addressing farmers, he warned against the diversion of subsidised inputs and directed security agencies to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement.

He explained that the state had adopted a subsidised sales model instead of free distribution to avoid past abuses and guarantee that support reaches genuine farmers. “This model guarantees that support reaches those working on the farms,” Aliyu stated.

Present at the event were Chiso Dattijo, former deputy governor and Chairman of the Fertiliser Sales Committee; Muhammad Alkali, Commissioner for Agriculture; and Ibrahim Adare, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The Sultan of Sokoto was represented by Dr Jabir Kilgori.

Also in attendance were prominent political and traditional figures including Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Speaker of the House of Assembly Tukur Bodinga, APC State Chairman Isa Achida, lawmakers, and other top government officials.

Nigerian government to establish livestock breeding centres

The initiative is expected to boost local production.

The government has announced plans to establish livestock breeding centres across all six geopolitical zones of the country, as part of a broader strategy to enhance productivity and sustainability in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

Aliyu Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, disclosed during a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.

Speaking during a plenary on agriculture and food security, Abdullahi said the Tinubu administration is deliberately investing in the livestock sector as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda. “The initiative aims to equip the next generation with modern agricultural skills, technology-driven

knowledge, and innovative farming practices to strengthen national food security,” the minister said.

He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among government ministries to fully implement the administration’s goals, highlighting efforts to modernise agricultural education.

According to Abdullahi, the ministry is partnering with the federal ministry of education to redesign the school curriculum in order to foster youth engagement in agriculture and encourage the adoption of modern practices. “Synergy among the ministries of agriculture, environment, water resources, livestock development, and the marine and blue economy is critical to achieving the broad objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.

The initiative is expected to boost local production, reduce dependence on imports, and create opportunities for young Nigerians in the agricultural value chain.

South Africa convenes high-level indaba to tackle Fmd outbreaks

Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease.

South Africa is currently experiencing significant and ongoing challenges with widespread outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), affecting several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and, most recently, the Free State.

The resurgence of the disease has resulted in livestock movement restrictions and significantly impacted the country's red meat trade on international markets. In response to this escalating crisis, the department of agriculture, in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), is hosting a national Foot and Mouth Disease Indaba.

The two-day event, starting Monday, 21 July 2025, took place at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, northeast of Pretoria. John Steenhuisen, agriculture minister and Nokuzola Capa, deputy minister will lead the Indaba, which aims to bring together top veterinary scientists, agricultural experts, and key industry stakeholders, to deliberate on and develop long-term solutions to combat FMD. "Having already inflicted significant damage to the multibillion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa's broader economy. Therefore, the Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease.

"The Indaba will convene a range of multidisciplinary specialists to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach to controlling and ultimately eradicating foot and mouth disease," the department said in a statement.

The key areas of discussion was strengthening biosecurity measures at farm level, enhancing vaccination programmes, and reinforcing animal movement controls.

The Department of agriculture, in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, emphasised its committed to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to FMD.

The department added that the Indaba signifies a crucial advancement in the ongoing efforts to combat the disease."By cultivating strong partnerships between government entities, academic institutions and industry leaders, the Department of Agriculture is committed to developing precise and effective measures that will eradicate the disease and safeguard the long-term sustainability of South Africa's agricultural sector."

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