***As Farm Alert Marks 5th Anniversary

The Federal Government has been urged to adopt technology and innovation to address critical gaps in Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Speaking at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of Farm Alert in Abuja, Professor Folorunsho Fasina, a lecturer at the University of Pretoria and an expert with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlighted the lack of coordination and technological integration in the sector.
“Technology and innovation are lacking in Nigeria’s livestock industry,” Fasina said. “Despite being resource-rich, we are not organized. Vertical integration is essential to unlock the sector’s full potential and create jobs.”

Fasina, who also chairs Farm Alert’s Advisory Board, praised the organization for its innovative strides in the past five years, including reaching over 1,000 communities in six states with animal health products.

CEO of Farm Alert, Dr. Femi Kayode, revealed the company’s plans to expand into West Africa by 2026, followed by operations in East, South, and Central Africa by 2030. “By 2030, we aim to be the largest distributor of animal feed in Africa,” Kayode announced.
The event underscored Farm Alert’s commitment to supporting young veterinarians. In partnership with the Nigerian Medical Veterinary Association (NMVA), Farm Alert has provided a N20 million grant to 10 veterinarians and plans to extend an additional N60 million to 30 more.
During the celebration, 12 veterinarians received N12 million in start-up funding.
Since its launch in November 2019, Farm Alert has made significant strides in improving access to animal health products, such as vaccines, drugs, and supplements, in underserved communities.
The organization’s innovative distribution model aggregates the needs of veterinary stores and delivers products efficiently and cost-effectively.

NMVA President, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, commended Farm Alert for its creativity and impact, noting the partnership’s role in transforming veterinary practice in Nigeria.

With its continued focus on technology, innovation, and expansion, Farm Alert is poised to drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s livestock sector and beyond.

The Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI) has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to provide strategic support for Nigeria’s cocoa industry, specifically requesting funding and the transformation of the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) into a statutory board. This appeal, outlined in an open letter to the President, emphasizes the need to sustain and grow Nigeria’s cocoa economy by supporting critical regulatory bodies and providing subsidies to farmers.

The open letter, signed by CORI’s Director-General Comrade Adeola Adegoke, also urged the federal government to fund the National Task Force on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to safeguard Nigerian cocoa from potential sanctions by the European Union, which recently extended its deadline for sustainable cocoa compliance by another 12 months. According to CORI, adequate support for the Task Force would help address EU regulatory requirements, protecting Nigeria’s cocoa exports valued at billions of dollars.

CORI commended the significant progress made by the Nigerian cocoa sector in 2024. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates a remarkable 304% increase in cocoa exports in Q1 2024, rising to N438.7 billion from N108.6 billion in the same period last year. Cocoa accounted for 42.4% of Nigeria’s N1.04 trillion agricultural exports, becoming a vital source of foreign exchange amid economic reforms.

Despite these gains, CORI stressed that the unregulated cocoa market has left smallholder farmers vulnerable to low productivity, post-harvest losses, and quality issues. The establishment of the NCMC by the previous administration in 2022 was seen as a positive step, but CORI argues that insufficient funding has limited the committee’s ability to carry out essential duties like quality control, climate resilience initiatives, and monitoring child labor.

“Funding constraints have undermined the NCMC’s ability to address critical issues and enhance Nigeria’s position in the global cocoa market,” said Comrade Adegoke. He also highlighted that, given President Tinubu’s campaign promise to establish regulatory boards for key agricultural commodities, cocoa deserves priority as a top foreign exchange earner and a source of livelihood for many rural farmers.

CORI is also calling for subsidized inputs to support smallholder farmers, believing that this would boost productivity and position Nigeria to overtake Côte d’Ivoire as the leading cocoa producer in West Africa by 2027. According to CORI, providing affordable resources and infrastructure could lead to transformative prosperity for Nigeria’s cocoa farmers.

The appeal concludes with CORI’s assurance of continued collaboration with all stakeholders to advance the Nigerian cocoa sector, deepening sustainable practices and ensuring prosperity for cocoa farmers. The initiative also calls upon governors of cocoa-producing states and other industry leaders to lend their support for the industry’s growth and sustainability.

By Stephen Adeleye

Financial expert and community leader, Ambassador Dr. Samuel Babatunde-Esanuaje, has advised Nigerian youths to embrace farming as a way to achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life. Speaking with journalists at the 2024 Orokere Day celebration in Orokere-Amuro, Mopamuro Local Government Area, Kogi State, Babatunde encouraged youths to avoid social vices and look to agriculture as a sustainable response to the country’s economic challenges.

As the National Financial Consultant for the Association of 774 Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Gbobagunwa of Amuro Land, Babatunde highlighted the role of agriculture in job creation and poverty alleviation. “We’re facing a food crisis, and meaningful involvement in farming can be a solution,” he stated. “I personally cultivate 12 hectares of rice, which shows farming is both viable and profitable.”

Babatunde pointed out that agriculture offers young people an opportunity to become self-sufficient while contributing to national food security. “With the current cost of rice at around N130,000 per 50kg for imported brands and N100,000 for local varieties, farming offers significant earning potential,” he said. “Youth engagement in agriculture can bring prosperity, while also promoting community involvement, peace, and responsibility.”

In addition, Babatunde called on the government to address key security issues, including the protection of farmlands and tackling the threats of banditry and kidnappings that undermine agricultural productivity. “Ensuring safety will allow more people to pursue farming and, in turn, strengthen food security,” he added.

Retired Commodore Folusho Daniel, a former representative of Mopamuro in the Kogi Assembly, echoed Babatunde’s call for youth empowerment. “We need to focus on employment and engagement for our youth,” he said. “This is essential not only for their future but also for reducing insecurity across the country.”

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