Food and Agriculture
How Artificial Fertilizers In Food Production Can Cause Untimely Death
A Professor of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Professor Moses Awodun has reiterated the danger of continuous use of synthetic fertilizers in crop production to human life
The Professor observed that most terminal illnesses ravaging the society could be as a result of the consumption of various food crops including fruits produced with the aid of synthetic fertilizers. googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">
Professor Moses Awodun made this observation while delivering the 129th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) titled The Nexus of Population, Food Security, Climate Change and Plant Nutrition: Organic Wastes as Alternative Fertilizer in Nigeria.
Awodun, said the risk of dying from cancer (brain cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, intestinal cancer and lymphoma (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL) is said to be six times more when synthetic fertilizers are used on crops that are consumed by people.
He also said synthetic fertilizers has also been associated with causing a condition which leads to difficulty in delivering sufficient oxygen to all body tissues, and is also linked to birth and development disorders such as the Blue Baby Syndrome.
Professor Awodun indicated that crops grown with high impact of fertilizers are less resistant, less nutritiously balanced and rot more rapidly than those which are naturally grown.
According to the Don the application of excess fertilizers is destroying the presence and balance of the Microbiome responsible for the production of nutrients in the soil thus making the farmer more and more dependent on this inorganic fertilizer.
Buttressing his points Professor Awodun referred to a report which stated that an individual today would need to consume twice as much meat, three times as much fruit, four to five times as many vegetables to obtain the same amount of minerals and trace elements available in the same food in 1940 because of the use of synthetic fertilizers.
Awodun said that with the rich endowment of abundant natural, mineral and human resources which characterize developing world and especially Nigeria, it is expected that they should be able to produce enough food to feed their people , generate foreign exchange earnings from the export and sales of surplus.
He said Nigeria soil should be the next Black oil in a world of climate change, adding that if as a country, it can curtail the vagaries in farm activities; it will go a long way in restoring life to the soil.
Awodun, a one-time Acting Director, Centre for Renewable Energy Technology (CRET) advised that to meet a state of equilibrium in food production in the face of an increasing population, food security and climate change, the government should invest in healthy living soils by channeling agricultural subsidies towards sustainable farming methods, stating that if this is done right ,agriculture can conserve the diversity of species found in soil, halt land degradation and desertification which in turn would help countries ensure future food securities and mitigate climate change.
He said farmers should be encouraged to obtain all their fertilizers from organic sources such as compost manures, green manures and legumes.
He advised that for health, commercial and environmental reasons it is clear that fertilizers should be used with caution. He said crop production for future food security will require sustainable fertilizer management, which might include more sophisticated decisions support tools, improved agronomic practices and cropping systems that require less fertilizer input.
In his remark the Chairman at the event and Vice Chancellor, Prof Joseph Fuwape, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development, Professor Philip Oguntunde described the lecture as a contemporary one to present happenings within the society.
He also commended the lecturer for his immense contributions to the body of knowledge in his field of study.
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Food and Agriculture
Kogi L‑PRES Trains 300 Livestock Extension Workers, Farmers, Community Service Providers
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L‑PRES), has commenced a capacity‑building workshop to mainstream Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Participatory Learning Action (PLA) methodologies into livestock extension training for Livestock Development in Kogi State
The event, held across the three Senatorial Districts of Kogi State, gathered over 300 Livestock Extension Agents, Lead Livestock Farmers, Key Value Chain Actors and community service providers, among others.
While declaring the workshop open in Lokoja, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, expressed pleasure at the gathering, noting that livestock is vital to Kogi’s economy, food security, and poverty reduction.
He highlighted challenges such as limited extension access, inadequate technical skills, and low technology adoption, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to empowering its workforce.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdulsalam Hadi, the Commissioner urged participants to actively share experiences and learn for the benefit of farmers.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Project Coordinator of Kogi L‑PRES Trains 300 Livestock Extension Workers, Farmers, Community Service Providers Mr Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza Otaru, said the training kicked off on Thursday in Lokoja for participants from Kogi West, continued on Friday in Anyigba for the East, and today, Saturday, in Okene for Kogi Central participants.
He said the workshop aims to strengthen participants’ ability to integrate PRA/PLA techniques into their extension / Advisory service delivery at Livestock Value Chain Clusters across the 21 LGAs of Kogi State.
According to him, it will improve the relevance and effectiveness of training programmes, address the specific needs of rural livestock farmers, and accelerate adoption of innovative technologies and Good Animal Husbandry Practices.
“The programme is structured as a “Train‑of‑Trainers” (ToT) initiative targeting 300 participants, including livestock extension agents, lead livestock farmers, and key value‑chain actors.
Mr Otaru noted that while Kogi L‑PRES initially recorded over 54,000 livestock farmers at baseline, a re‑validation exercise identified 32,000 genuine livestock farmers, declaring that the era of portfolio farmers without farms is gone in Kogi State.
He emphasised that the trained livestock extension agents and lead livestock farmers will cascade the training to at least 32,000 farmers across 64 Livestock Value Chain Clusters in the 21 local government areas of the state.
He noted that competent resource persons from the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), ABU‑Zaria, will facilitate the workshops, supported by a National Extension Service Specialist from L‑PRES National Coordination Office, Abuja.
Mr Otaru thank and appreciate the Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering support toward empowering Kogi livestock farmers, enhancing livestock productivity, and ensuring the achievement of food security in the state.
He urged participants to engage actively, noting that the workshop should be a “contributory and participatory program” that will drive sustainable livestock management and long‑term community resilience, especially in underserved areas.
The Managing Director, Kogi State Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Dr Bello George Ogirima, described the training workshop as a crucial step toward building the Livestock Extension Agents and Lead Livestock Farmers capacity and strengthening adaptive strategies for livestock production.
He emphasized that livestock extension agents are key to quality extension/advisory service delivery at the agribusiness clusters and urged full cooperation to complement project goals.
A Livestock Extension Agent, Mr Johnson Olusegun from Mopamuro LGA, commended Kogi L‑PRES for prioritizing continuous training and retraining of extension agents and farmers, stating the workshop would empower them to address challenges hindering livestock value chains.
The workshop featured presentations from resource persons on topics such as Participatory Needs Assessment (PNA), PRA/PLA in livestock extension, Participatory Planning and Prioritization, Participatory Technology Development and Testing, and Monitoring & Evaluation Methods, among others.
The workshop is expected to mark a significant step toward mainstreaming participatory approaches in Kogi’s livestock sector, laying a foundation for scalable and resilient farming practices across the state.
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Food and Agriculture
Kogi L-PRES Distributes Motorcycles, Medical Equipment to Boost Livestock Productivity
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES), has distributed 21 Motorcycles to the Livestock Extension Agents in the 21 Local Government Areas as mobility support to boost Livestock Extension and Advisory Service delivery at the livestock value chain clusters in Kogi State.
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Also 1,000 Livestock Extension Manual were distributed to the Livestock Farmers across the 64 Livestock Value Chain Clusters in the State.
In addition, Veterinary Medical Equipment which comprises; Veterinary Laboratory Equipment, Meat Inspection Kits, Veterinary Ambulatory Kits and Veterinary Surgical Kits were handed over to the Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Livestock Development, Lokoja to improve animal disease diagnosis, veterinary services, food safety and security in Kogi State
The state’s Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, who flagged off the distribution exercise in Lokoja, said the initiative was part of activities heralding a One-Day Stakeholders’ Engagement on Effective Livestock Extension and Advisory Services Delivery in the state.
The Commissioner charged the Livestock Extension Agents to make judicious use of the facilities placed at their disposal for the intended purposes towards livestock value chain development in the state.
Dr Bolarin cautioned the beneficiaries not to use the facilities for commercial or private ventures but purely meant to carry out their extension and advisory services and nothing else.
He admonished L-PRES State Project Coordinator, Otaru Abdulkabir to continue to prioritise staff welfare and renumeration so as to achieve the needed productivity in the livestock sub-sector.
He stressed that the economic power of any nation depended on its level of agricultural transformation as a bedrock of socioeconomic development and employment creation.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr Otaru Abdulkabir presented the structure of the Livestock Extension/Advisory Service delivery in Kogi State. He expressed delight on the adoption of Farmer to Farmer Extension/Advisory Services having the Lead Livestock Farmers/Value Chain Cluster Coordinators adequately and efficiently playing the role at the various value chain clusters along the priority value chains in Kogi State. He further explained that the livestock extension services have gone digital to showcase the technical know-how of the extension workers by using Kobo Tool to capture real time data during the delivery of Extension and Advisory Services in the state.
Otaru disclosed that the collaboration between Kogi L-PRES and Kogi Agricultural Development Project had changed the narratives with positive and impactful results assuring that the feat would be sustained in the years ahead.
He thanked and appreciated His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, for providing an enabling environment to ensure that L-PRES activities thrive in Kogi State.
The Kogi State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Timothy Ojomah; the Managing Director of Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Dr Bello Ogirima;, the State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mrs Abah Helen, and the representative of the Livestock Farmers Mr Ibrahim Daniel Arome in their separate remarks commended the initiative saying it would further strengthen livestock productivity in the state.
They admonished the government at all levels to be wary of ghost farmers syndrome and be ready to weed them out to allow genuine farmers benefit from government patronage and assistance to them to carry out their agricultural activities in Kogi State.
Daniel Arome, a beneficiary, praised the state government and L-PRES for the initiative, pledging effective utilization of the resources for intended purposes.
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Food and Agriculture
Kogi Launches National Animal Identification, Traceability, to Enhance Livestock Productivity
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Ministry of Livestock Development has organized a sensitization workshop alongside the launch of the National Animal Identification system towards enhancing livestock management and productivity in the state.
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Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Femi Bolarin while speaking at the event, said that the initiative underscores Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration commitment to bolstering the livestock sector, a crucial component for food security and rural economic growth.
He described the establishment of Kogi Ministry of Livestock Development as a right step in the right direction and reaffirmed government’s commitment to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure effective livestock registration.
He gave an assurance that the effort of Governor Ododo to modernize livestock production in Kogi would not go in vain.
According to the commissioner “The NAITS initiative is designed to ensure effective identification, registration and traceability of all livestock across the country. This technology will not only enhance productivity and data-driven planning but will also checkmate incessant menace of cattle rustling, livestock theft and transboundary animal diseases that have over time affected the growth of the livestock sub-sector
“In Kogi State, livestock farming remains an integral part of rural livelihoods and food security, the implementation of NAITS comes at the right time. With this system, we shall be able to track animal movement, monitor health status, and facilitate trade transparency to create confidence among farmers, herders, and consumers alike”
He commended the visionary leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his continued support towards livestock transformation.
“I also acknowledge the partnership, technical and financial coordinating office, Kogi L-PRES coordinating office and our development partners as well as field officers”
The commissioner explained that the sensitization training workshop was organised to create awareness and enlightenment on livestock production and management.
Representative of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Abdulkareem Durosinolorun disclosed that NAITS is a national programme under the federal government national livestock transformation plan in collaboration with Megacorp Nigeria Limited.
He lauded Kogi State Government for keying into the programme to boost livestock production in the state.
Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah in his goodwill message at the occasion, maintained that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s led administration would not relent in prioritising all segments of agricultural activities in the state.
Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir, Kogi State Project Coordinator of Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES), expressed happiness with the launch of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System in the state describing the development as a major step forward in collective effort to modernize and secure livestock production and management in Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kogi State Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Isah Anate Jimoh, said that his department remains fully committed to ensuring smooth implementation and sustainability of the programme in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We will continue to work closely with livestock associations, community leaders and security agencies to ensure that every livestock owners participate in the registration and tagging process”
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