Practice Makes Perfect in the Agriculture sector

Accompanied by his 2 year twin girls, Manyoh Besong and Ayamba Besong; Josiah Egbe strolls out of his family house to extend a hand shake to a journalist. His cold and solid smile creates a good friendship. Josiah’s typical playful African twin -(talkative indeed) run around the giant cocoa nut tree, in front of their house where their father Josiah Egbe has planted their family treasure, 4 active snail farms. Josiah is a tall handsome dark young man referred to in his community as “Tanyi” meaning father of twin. 

In the context of the Cameroon’s snail farming project Josiah is a special case and his slow space belies his accomplishments. Josiah, wife and three children live in the Ekona village some 10KM from Buea the capital of the South West Region in Cameroon. 

Women Empowerment Holds the key to Transforming Africa’s Agriculture

Priscilla Achekpa

Women groups under the aegis of the African Working Group on Gender and Climate Change (AWGGCC) at the ongoing African Climate Change conference in Marrakech, Morocco have identified increase in women’s access to productive resources such as land, credit, transfer and enhancement of indigenous technology as instrumental to transforming Africa’s agriculture.

Priscilla Achakpa of the Working Group decried the slow advancement and transformation of African women’s access to formal education and called on African governments to implement policies that support gender research and full documentation of impact of climate change on gender as well as build the capacity of women to participate in key decision making processes.

 

Speaking during a side event on the theme” using climate knowledge to empower women in the value chains. Towards transformation of Africa’s Agriculture” Ruth Aura, Researcher in Kenya reported that “It was evident that there is no specific government policy on climate change that targets women” but, she confirmed that if women are mobilized and trained they can really influence Africa’s agriculture. 

From the Successful CSA Evidence Stories shared by Ruth, on how small-scale women dairy farmers profitably participate in the growing dairy industry, improving nutrition and increasing farmer income and access to markets.

 

According to Ruth, Women make up at least 80% of the farming labor force in Kenya, so if these women are trained, given the right tools, they can produce not only subsistent but commercially which will subsequently change livelihood. 

With climate smart agriculture, the effects of variability and changes in climate which affects agriculture, production and storage will be better faced by women.  

Journalists, key to Africa feeding itself

Journalists attending the Fourth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Morocco have unanimously agreed that their involvement in dissemination of information on climate change will enhance Africa’s chances of feeding the continent.

In interviews with media personnel at the Conference’s newsroom, journalists echoed out their importance in the dissemination of timely and accurate  information to the public.

Emmanuel K. Bensah, a blogger and radio journalist from Ghana, says knowledge is acquired through a process of learning.

 “For journalists to be effective in their work, they need capacity building, training that will afford them the skill required to disseminate climate change information which would in turn make people, especially farmers, make informed decision,” Mr. Bensah says.

Mr. Bensah says climate change is a development issue and journalists therefore need to move beyond politics in their reporting and bring climate change closer to the people who are mostly affected by it.

Reject World Bank's Rating, Civil Society Network Urges Nigeria

Ahead of the planned October 29 2014 release 2015 Doing Business report and ranking of some 189 countries, including Nigeria by the World Bank, a civil society network under the aegis of Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet) has urged the Nigerian government to reject the ranking.

In a release dated the 24th of October 2014, the network enjoined the government to formally challenge the World Bank’s rating of countries as it considers it as "an activity for which the Bank has no mandate and legitimacy to conduct." 

Since 2002, through this annual publication, the World Bank has been benchmarking and ranking countries according to the ease of doing business. The Doing Business is based on the principles of privatization, deregulation, low taxation for corporations, and ‘free market’ fundamentalism. It rewards the lowering of social and environmental safeguards, therefore allowing the exploitation of natural resources and human capital by foreign corporations and local elites.

This flagship project of the World Bank is used for other benchmarking projects, such as the 2013 Benchmarking the Business of Agriculture (BBA), created by the G8 to “develop options for generating a Doing Business in Agriculture index. 

Gov Fashola Rattles Presidency with “THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE”

“THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE”, BEING TITLE OF LECTURE DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN ON THE BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF HIS EXCELLENCY TIMIPRE SYLVA

I think it is too elementary to attempt any formal definition of democracy.
It will serve our purpose to say that it is participatory governance in the sense that we all have a say, whether we vote or not. It is also useful to remind ourselves that participation is largely by representation; in other words, those who are old enough to vote and those who are not, are represented by people elected to speak, think and act for us.

This part is very important because we all cannot be in Government, especially the Executive and Legislative arm, so we must elect or otherwise choose people to go there on our behalf.
The problem is compounded by size.

Can you imagine what a Senate or House of Representatives where all 160 million of us can sit will look like? From this point we can see the inherent challenges that lie in a process of collective decision making.
In order to further highlight some of the challenges that lie in democratic governance, I will share with you a report of developments across the World published by Newsweek Magazine on August 23 & 30, 2010 edition titled “the Best Countries in the World”, Newsweek Top 100.

An article by Rana Foroohar posed the following question before delivering the report of a survey of 100 nations:-
”If you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous and upwardly mobile life?”

WHO Declares Nigeria Ebola-free, Hails Spectacular Feat

(Photo:dw.de)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigeria Ebola-free after 42 days or double the incubation period of 21 days with no new case.

The world body confirmed this on Monday, through its country director in Abuja, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, describing the nation's exemplary handling of the outbreak as a "spectacular success story".

Nigeria has won praise for its swift response after a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, brought the disease to Lagos in July. At the last count, Nigeria recorded 19 cases of the virus, out of which seven died, amongst them doctors and nurses. 

The disease has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. An estimated 70 per cent of those infected have died in those countries. "The virus is gone for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated," Gama Vaz said.

Cease-fire Hopes Wane As Boko Haram Abducts More Women

Over forty Women and girls from two villages in Nigeria's north-eastern Adamawa state have been abducted by suspected militants, residents say. 

The abductions have not been confirmed by the authorities, but residents say they took place a day after the military announced it had agreed a ceasefire with the Boko Haram group.

The government hopes the Islamist group will free more than 200 girls seized in April as part of negotiations.

Boko Haram is yet to confirm the truce. Following Friday's ceasefire announcement, the government said further talks with Boko Haram were due to be held this week in neighbouring Chad. 

On Oct. 17, Nigeria’s chief of defense, Air Marshall Alex Badeh was quoted widely as having engineered a ceasefire in “all theaters” of operation against Boko Haram, though the news was taken with some skepticism. Nigeria has seen a number of botched truces with the insurgents.

‘We will succeed in these negotiations’ - COP 20 President

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peruvian Environment Minister (pix by AFP)

DW: The Climate Change Conference taking place here in Bonn this week is focused on developing the text of the new draft climate agreement. How are the Bonn talks coming along? What role will these talks play for Lima’s conference?

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal: This is a key step, because it is the place where negotiators from around the world and from different blocs declare their positions. I’m completely sure that we’re going to have something strong by the end of this week here in Bonn as a way to move toward success in Lima.

Why do you think it’s important for a developing country like Peru to host the next major climate summit?

We should recognize that Peru is very vulnerable to climate change. Peru is a country that depends a lot on fishing activities, because we have this cold current, the Humboldt Current. That in turn is affected by the El Nino phenomenon, which is getting more severe because of climate change. Also Peru has 70 percent of all tropical glaciers of the world. So the glacier melting is a problem in relation to our agri-biodiversity, because we’re a country with a lot of different native crops.

Tony Elumelu Launches Empowerment Fund to Revitalize Distressed Communities in Nigeria

Tony O. Elumelu Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings has announced the launch of The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.
 

The Fund was launched by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria, with the purpose of revitalizing the economies of post conflict and disaster communities across Nigeria.
The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund was created out of the N2.5 billion donated by
The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Heirs Holdings companies. 

This donation was announced at the Presidential Fundraising Dinner for the Victims Support Fund in July 2014. Given to support distressed communities across Nigeria, N1 billion was immediately disbursed to the Victims Support Fund, while the remaining N1.5 billion now serves as the initial seeding for The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund. 

The Fund will focus on communities like those in the Niger Delta and Jos. “Rehabilitating distressed communities will require interventions not just from the government, but also from the private sector. Therefore, I am pleased to see that Tony Elumelu, one of our private sector leaders, stepped up in a big way - by making a major contribution to the Victim Support Fund and that his effort did not end there as he has now created The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund” said Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

NGOs in Nigeria Must Pay Tax, Government Insists

Mr. Osy Chuke, explained that the only tax which such organizations was exempted was income tax but that if they got involved in activities that yielded profit, taxes had to be paid to the federal government from such profits, adding that personal income taxes of their staff had to be paid to the government.
“Nigerian tax laws do not necessarily exempt NGOs from paying taxes.  Rather they recognise NGOs as basically no-for-profit entities, which are therefore exempted from paying Income Tax.
“Where, however, an NGO engages in activities from which it derives profits, then it will be required to pay taxes on such profits, like any other profit-making entity.
“Also, other than income taxes, NGOs are not exempt from paying taxes suck as Value Added Tax, VAT, on goods and services.  They are also required to deduct and pay over Personal Income Tax from the salaries and allowances paid to their employees, amongst others,” he said
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/ngos-must-pay-tax-firs-insists/#sthash.mI6TAvqF.dpuf

Mr. Osy Chuke, explained that the only tax which such organizations was exempted was income tax but that if they got involved in activities that yielded profit, taxes had to be paid to the federal government from such profits, adding that personal income taxes of their staff had to be paid to the government.
“Nigerian tax laws do not necessarily exempt NGOs from paying taxes.  Rather they recognise NGOs as basically no-for-profit entities, which are therefore exempted from paying Income Tax.
“Where, however, an NGO engages in activities from which it derives profits, then it will be required to pay taxes on such profits, like any other profit-making entity.
“Also, other than income taxes, NGOs are not exempt from paying taxes suck as Value Added Tax, VAT, on goods and services.  They are also required to deduct and pay over Personal Income Tax from the salaries and allowances paid to their employees, amongst others,” he said
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/ngos-must-pay-tax-firs-insists/#sthash.mI6TAvqF.dpuf

Mr. Osy Chuke, explained that the only tax which such organizations was exempted was income tax but that if they got involved in activities that yielded profit, taxes had to be paid to the federal government from such profits, adding that personal income taxes of their staff had to be paid to the government.
“Nigerian tax laws do not necessarily exempt NGOs from paying taxes.  Rather they recognise NGOs as basically no-for-profit entities, which are therefore exempted from paying Income Tax.
“Where, however, an NGO engages in activities from which it derives profits, then it will be required to pay taxes on such profits, like any other profit-making entity.
“Also, other than income taxes, NGOs are not exempt from paying taxes suck as Value Added Tax, VAT, on goods and services.  They are also required to deduct and pay over Personal Income Tax from the salaries and allowances paid to their employees, amongst others,” he said
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/ngos-must-pay-tax-firs-insists/#sthash.mI6TAvqF.dpuf

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister of the Economy

Non-governmental organisations in the country are not exempted from paying taxes, the Federal Inland Revenue Service has declared.

According to the service, insinuations that NGOs, as not-for-profit organisations, are exempted from paying taxes are incorrect.

Speaking to members of different NGOs during a sensitisation meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Kabiru Marshi, said “Nigerian tax laws do not necessarily exempt NGOs from paying taxes.

“As an emerging economy, Nigeria is moving away from resource dependence and focusing more on sustainable sources of revenue, especially taxation. We cannot, therefore, afford to leave behind any taxpayer segment, neither can any group of taxpayers seek to exempt themselves from contributing to the development of Nigeria through paying taxes, except as permitted by law.”

UNFCCC and Post-2015 Development: More Than the Sum of the Parts

 

There is no denying the fundamental and inextricable link between climate change and development. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (IPCC AR5) sends a clear message: we are all affected by the impacts of climate change, but it is the poor and vulnerable people, communities and countries that suffer disproportionately. 

 

They will - and already do - feel the environmental and socio-economic effects most acutely, making climate change a great injustice. Indeed, during the recent UN Climate Summit, leaders from vulnerable countries, such as Bangladesh, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, reminded us of the fundamental consequences they are already experiencing.

 

The Summit was an historic moment, with 120 Heads of State, 400,000 citizens taking to the streets, sector-leading commitments from corporate CEOs, and inspiring leadership from cities and the faith community. World leaders were meant to start matching those commitments. 

Gowon, Akinwunmi, UBA GMD, Others Receive Leadership Awards

Gen Yakubu Gowon

Former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, Group Managing Director and CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Phillips Oduoza, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina were among many other credible and distinguished Nigerians honoured yesterday at the annual   LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Awards held at the ThisDay Dome, Abuja.

The awards had in attendance top dignitaries from all walks of life including politicians, businessmen and members of the public.

General Yakubu Gowon, who will be 80 years on Sunday, October 19, 2014 received award as the   LEADERSHIP “Person of the Year” in 2013 for being the voice moderation in an increasingly fractured political environment.

Philips Oduoza, UBA GMD

Phillips Oduoza, the GMD/CEO of United Bank for Africa Plc received an award as Leadership “Banker of the Year.” In a citation at the awards, the organizers said that he was being honoured “for deepening UBA’s value as Africa’s global bank, skillfully guiding big ticket investments that significantly improved shareholder value while expanding the bank’s product offering and elevating customer service”

Also, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Education was named “Leadership Public Officer of the Year” for “aggressively implementing bold policy reforms, tackling decades of corruption in the fertiliser sector and pursuing innovative agricultural investment programmes to expand opportunities for the private sector to add value to crops produced in Nigeria.

Why Africa needs renewable energy for Agriculture

                                                 Rose Mensah-Kutin- Drector ABANTU For Development

Renewable energy sources like biofuels and hydroelectricity   may hold the key to Africa's agricultural productivity crisis. Without this intervention, food production will not increase.

The observation is has been part of the debate at the Fourth Conference on Climate Change and Development Africa. The call for renewable energy is based on the fact that Africa still depends on human power for producing food. 

"If you look at agriculture sector in Africa, you can see that much of the work there is done using human energy mainly from poorer women and women who cannot be relied on to produce for the growing population" said Dr. Wilberforce Kisamba, the chairperson of Uganda'sNational Planning Authority. 

UBA and MoneyGram launch New Outbound Money Transfer Service

Nigeria’s money transfer business landscape entered  a new phase yesterday as Africa’s global bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and global Money Transfer giant, MoneyGram launched   outbound money transfers in Nigeria.

The newly launched MoneyGram outbound money transfer service allows Nigerians to send money abroad through any UBA branch in Nigeria or Africa while the funds are received in dollar or the currency of the receiving country.

  With this service, Nigerians can now send money to countries like UK and USA from Nigeria. The Nigerian will send money in Naira, the person receiving in UK or USA; will receive it in pounds or dollars.  The outbound money transfer service allows Nigerians to send money in Naira to over 200 countries around the world by simply working into any UBA branch inNigeria or in the 18 other African countries where UBA has operations outside Nigeria or through any other MoneyGram Agent Bank. 

Nigeria claims deal with Boko Haram on ceasefire, kidnapped girls

Nigeria on Friday claimed to have reached a deal with Boko Haram militants on a ceasefire and the release of more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls but doubts immediately surrounded the purported breakthrough.

But a precedent of previous claims from the government and military about an end to the deadly five-year conflict and the fate of the missing teenagers left many observers urging caution.

Jonathan is also expected to declare his bid for re-election in the coming weeks, with positive news about the hostages and the violence likely to give him a political boost.

Multiple analysts cast doubt over the credibility of a man called Danladi Ahmadu, whom Tukur claimed represented Boko Haram at the two meetings in neighbouring Chad.

"I have never heard of such a man (Ahmadu) and if Boko Haram wanted to declare a ceasefire it would come from the group's leader Abubakar Shekau," said Shehu Sani, a Boko Haram expert who has negotiated with the group before on behalf of the government.

CCDA IV: Final Day in Pictures

2015: Anioma Leaders Declare Support for Jonathan, Endorses Elumelu for Delta Governorship

Asagba of Asaba, HRH (Prof) ChikeEdozien and Honorable Ndudi Elumelu

A high-level delegation of ‎Anioma people of DeltaState led by the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien Wednesday, last week, had a closed door meeting with President Jonathan at the State House,Abuja.

Though, the details of the meeting was not disclosed, sources informed this paper that it was to express the support of the Anioma people for the second term bid of the President and also seek the President's backing on getting an Anioma person as the next governor of Delta State. 

 Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting with the President, Professor Edozien said, "We are here to confer with the President on national issues, issue of security affecting the country and the coming elections"

 He said the delegation pledged their support for the President, if he decides to seek re-election in 2015.

CCDA IV: High-Level Meeting in Pictures

 

CCDA IV: Ebola can Affect Africa’s Capacity to feed Africa, Experts Say

 

Ebola Virus Disease

Experts at the ongoing fourth edition of the African Climate Change conference in Marrakech, Morocco have expressed concerns on Africa’s capacity to feed itself if the current outbreak of Ebola virus disease is not effectively tackled.

For months now, quarantine zones and restrictions on movement imposed to help contain the Ebola disease have severely hampered the transport and sale of food. Consequently food prices have shot up, as panic buying and shortages have set in, and getting access to food has become a pressing concern for many people in all three worst-hit countries in West Africa.

The price of cassava, for example, rose 150% in the first weeks of August in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.

Olushola Olayide, representative of the African Union Commission at the conference confirmed that concrete steps including the appointment of a special envoy and a delegation to affected countries have been taken and other areas of intervention are being considered by the commission. In addition, “Africa can overcome Ebola drawing valuable lessons from Nigeria’s successful containment of the outbreak,” Olayide added.

#CCDA IV: Day 2 Pictures of Africa Can Feed Africa Conference

CCDA IV: Climate Information Service can Reduce Africa’s Vulnerability to Climate Change

Is scientific climate information service adequate and reliable in reducing vulnerability to climate change? This is a question that has been posed by communities in Arid and Semi Arid lands of Kenyan (ASALs), who acknowledged that they still continue using indigenous knowledge to monitor weather patterns. The communities in ASALs have conceded that due to weather changes and change in seasons, the indigenous methods are becoming less reliable and thus the need for alternative methods to disseminate climate information.

In a bid to ensure that “Africa can feed Africa now: translating Climate Knowledge into action”, organizations are devising ways of working with communities in disseminating climate information to end-users. A case scenario in Kenya is the Kenya Meteorological Services (KMS) working together with partners under the Adaptation Consortium in developing user-driven Climate Information Service (CIS) to better support planning across county governments in Kenya as well as those whose lives and livelihoods are directly impacted by weather and climate.

CCDA IV: A la recherche des solutions locales aux défis liés au climat

Kebby Kabunda

 

Comme les débats sur le changement climatique progressent, on est à la recherche et à l’élaboration des voies pour trouver la solution à ce phénomène qui touche tous les secteurs du développement.

 

Parmi les théories émergentes, il y a le transfert des technologies et le modèle d’innovations qui se réfèrent largement aux nouveaux moyens de faire la même chose mais différemment afin d’atteindre des résultats différents.

 

Mais comment faut-il faire et à qui la responsabilité ? C’est l’un des thèmes qui a été discuté à la conférence sur le changement climatique à Marrakech au Maroc.

 

Le Coordinateur du Programme Humanitaire au Bureau d’Oxfam en Zambie, Kebby Kabunda, a dit que l’approche communautaire est le meilleur modèle puisqu’elle répond directement aux besoins des communautés touchées.

 

CCDA IV: Opening Day Pictures

CCDA IV: AFRICA CAN FEED AFRICA - Pre-Event Pictures

CCDA IV: Africa Can Feed Africa without GMOs

Olushola Olayide, Representative of African Union Commission

Experts at the ongoing Climate Change conference in Marrakech, Morocco have restated Africa’s capacity to feed itself now and in the future without genetically modified organisms. 

They however warned that it will require increased investment in climate change research, development and innovation to make technology accessible and affordable for farmers, to enhance opportunities for easy access to agricultural finance and insurance, to facilitate trading and access to markets at all levels, and to create an enabling environment for private sector investment in the agricultural value chain. 

Mrs Olushola Olayide, representative of the Africa Union Commission at the conference stated that the absence of an AU official position on GMOs does not manifestly translate into an endorsement of the organisms as “the continent has recorded good success stories in local food production and conservation methods in Benin and Malawi and with these efforts being upscaled currently, Africa will comfortably feed Africa.”

#CCDA IV: L’AFRIQUE DECIDEE DE NOURRIR L’AFRIQUE

Fatima Dentonm Coordinatrice ACPC

Les africains doivent agir en synergie pour pouvoir sauver leur continent  des changements climatiques et développer l’agriculture intelligente. 

L’appel vient d’être lancé   lors des débats de l’atelier qui annonce la quatrième conférence sur les changements climatiques et le développement de l’Afrique. Laquelle conférence se déroule du 8 octobre au 10 octobre au Marrakech sous le   thème « l’Afrique peut nourrir l’Afrique »

Par Diane Nininahazwem Marrakechm Morocco

« l’Afrique peut nourrir l’Afrique »