What is ARCN doing about tomato scarcity?

Before you start reading, try to recollect your experience the first time you went to buy tomatoes in the Nigerian market and discovered how expensive they had become. If you are not the market-going type, recall the first time you came first to first with the reality that tomato is now a “scarce commodity”.

Was it a sweet or bitter experience? Did you get a jolt when you were given three or four pieces of tomatoes for N500? Did you smile and pay, or did you shrug and pray: “God deliver my country”?

Or did you ask the harassed market woman that offered you the scarce vegetables, “Why?!”

Or did you scream the same question at your wife, house help, chef, or child?

I ask these questions because we are always looking at the wrong places for solutions. And we also have a penchant for looking for the wrong fellow to crucify. The average Nigerian will call for the head of President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, and then pray that God intervenes in the tomato scarcity.

But in saner climes, the people will call for relevant specific public officers to properly analyse the situation, and clearly give the country a road map for recovery. They will ask questions concerning the quality of stewardship these officials had rendered to the country, because it is under their watch that the nation is witnessing the emergency. And these officers must give account.

That is the time public officials, who are not competent to chart a course for remedy, resign. They give way for other leaders to apply their know-how, and save the nation.

I say this because as you read this piece, the remaining tomatoes in many of the country’s tomato farms are reportedly suffering from an onslaught of tomato blight, which definitely will worsen the scarcity we are presently experiencing.

Instead of calling for the head of the President and raving for divine intervention, this is the time for Nigerians to appraise our agricultural research system. What have the agricultural research institutes been doing all these years?

How have they spent the funds voted for agric research year in and year out? To what extent did they prepare for tomato disease outbreak? What better species of tomato do they have in their labs? Any extracts as found in Kenya? How effective are their extension services to the farmers? Who is in charge of the country’s agricultural research? Who are the people he/she works with, and how do they operate?

I believe this is the time we should beam our searchlight on the sub-sector because in reality there is almost no research going on in Nigeria. And without efficient and professional research in the agricultural sector, the present government’s swank about economic diversification through agriculture shall end up as mere political braggadocio.

In the past, I wrote about promoting plant tissue culture as a private sector enterprise because I observed that most government-owned laboratories were empty and sordid.

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria is the agency saddled with the responsibility of supervising and coordinating the research, training and extension activities of germane agric research institutes in the country. Prof. Baba Yusuf Abubakar is its Executive Secretary.

Recently, www.financialwatchngr.com <http://www.financialwatchngr.com> published a story titled, “N59bn agric research spent fails to lift farmers’ productivity”. The report said that according to data from budgetary allocation to the agricultural ministry, the research institutes got an average of N19.6bn yearly in the last three years (2013 – 2015), yet low yield per hectare was recorded by Nigerian farmers in most food and cash crops, thereby throwing up questions around inefficiency, corruption and lack of supervision.

Interestingly, the report published the reaction of the ARCN boss to the situation. “We have a total of 13,000 staff members and 90 per cent of the yearly allocation goes into salaries and emoluments. Only 10 per cent goes into research. This is why the institutes have not been able to improve farmers’ output,” he explained.

On the surface, this justification sounds like standard government response to such inefficiency concerns. Everybody knows Nigeria is encumbered with recurrent expenses with nothing to show for innovations and developmental infrastructure. But a little scratch reveals that the problem with the system goes beyond funds.

Granted, our research institutes may be bloated; but there are indications that perhaps the best staff is not put in the right positions to deliver the best. And, the leader at the helm has not been as professional as he should be in making appointments to the many research organs under his agency.

In other words, judging from complaints from various stakeholders and news reports I had read, the Professor had given more priority to appointments than research work.

I saw the red flag when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, reversed all appointments and postings made by Abubakar. Why should everything be about appointments?, I asked. Even in a research system people still peddle office positions?

My concern is that WAAPP is strategic to Nigeria’s agricultural growth and should not be meddled with. In the last five years, the programme had operated in the West Africa sub-region contributing to increased agriculture productivity by strengthening enabling conditions for sub-regional cooperation in technology generation, dissemination and adoption. The programme under its first phase had succeeded in making fish farming not only lucrative but accessible to thousands of youths and women across the country.

Nigeria’s domestic demand for fish is about three million tonnes but not even up to half of this is met with the domestic supply. The gap is bridged through the importation of fish which is unhealthy for our economic growth and self-reliance as a nation. Hence one of the core objectives of WAAPP-Nigeria is to ensure increase in fish production by developing and releasing top-notch technologies in aquaculture for adoption in Nigeria and the ECOWAS countries to increase productivity.

All over the world research institutes are run with the best brains and most competent hands. So, there has to be a mechanism to mop up fresh brains from tertiary institutions in the country, and to mainstream a staff motivation model that will bring out the best in scientists and researchers.

Government must wake up to the reality that with a changing climate, our crops must be climate-resilient and our farming methods climate-smart. We can only achieve these through intensive research. For us not to fall into another tragedy similar to today’s tomato scarcity we must do the needful.

In other countries, there is always news about contributions of agricultural research to their development, but in Nigeria one cannot remember the last time a research from any of the institutes supervised by ARCN made headlines. This is the more reason why Nigerians should ask them to explain their work on tomatoes and what they plan to do about the blight

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

BENEFITS OF TALINUM TRIANGULARE

• The scientific name is Talinum Triangulare. This plant is a healthy vegetable and contribute significantly to the health management of man,it is therefore recommended for daily nutritional need. 100 grams of water leaf contains;
• water(90-92g),
• protein(1.9-2.4g),
• fat(0.4-0.5),
• carbohydrates(3.7-4.0g),
• ,beta carotene (3mg),
• vitamin B1(0.08mg),
• vitamin B2(0.18mg)
• niacin(0.30mg),
•   vitamin C (31mg).
• contains powerful antioxidants called flavonoid,saponin and alkaloid

QUICK FACTS;
Its popularly known as water leave because of its high moisture content…cliche right.It has leafy edible leaves and succulent stem and pink flower.
HISTORY
It was introduced into South India from Sri Lanka and cultivated in Tamil Nadu as Ceylon Spinach.Its widely grown in most of the humid tropical countries such as West Africa,Asia(yes ke,philippines to be precise and called philppine spinach )and even South America.
HEALTH BENEFITS
ENHANCEMENT OF LIVER FUNCTION;
An interesting research was conducted in the department of biochemistry,University of Nsukka,ENUGU, they wanted to find out the effect of methanol extract of talinum triangulare(water leave) on the hematology and liver parameters of experimental rats and it was revealed substantially that this leave is very potent in the treatment of liver diseases because it reduces the concentration of  the serum hepatic marker enzyme in the blood , ding ding hepatic…hepatitis you get my drift now.This vegetable when consumed by man,will enhance liver health.Cheers to a glass of water leave juice.
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF TYPE II DIABETES;
The Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences stated that water leave has anti-hyperglycemic effect on a diabetic.These leaves are a good candidate for complementary medicine in the management of diabetes..In India these leaves are used as anti diabetic in ayurvedic medicine.Its complementary to healthy lifestyle and dieting,which is key in the proper management of blood glucose level.
NOTE;No amount of water leave juice will manage your blood glucose level when you are in the habit of eating processed carb,sugar,junk food and no form of exercise..capish.
CNS STIMULANT AND PAIN RELIEVER;
Water Leave contains a phytochemical called alkaloid and its a good central nervous system stimulant,i.e they enhance physical activity ,mental alertness and attention span,CNS stimulants are used to treat ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.This pyto chemical is also effective for pain relieve.
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND OXIDATIVE STRESS
This leaf has an anti- oxidant called flavonoid which helps in the management of cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress.Antioxidant are compounds that protect cells from the damaging effect of free radicals,an imbalance between antioxidant and free radicals result in ixidative stress,oxidative stress is linked to cancer,aging,atherosclerosis,inflammation and neuro degenerative diseases(pakinson and alzheimer)
LOWERING OF  CHOLESTEROL LEVEL
This leave has the ability to lower cholesterol because of the saponin content  in it.your body uses cholesterol to make bile acid needed for proper digestion.When you eat ,bile acid is released into your small intestine and absorbs fat,the work of the saponin is to help take cholesterol containing bile acid and form them into insoluble complex-meaning it can’t be dissolved into the body-which then leaves your body through your stool.
Down here in Lagos where i live this leave is everywhere and its so cheap,a big bunch can go for just N50(thats about 25cents),fresh, affordable and organic!

Natural rubber production

Natural rubber production

The rubber tree

Commercially, natural rubber is obtained almost exclusively from Hevea brasiliensis, a tree indigenous to South America, where it grows wild to a height of 34 metres (120 feet). Cultivated in plantations, however, the tree grows only to about 24 metres (80 feet) because carbon, necessary for growth, is also an essential constituent of rubber. Since only atmospheric carbon dioxide can supply carbon to the plant, the element has to be rationed between the two needs when the tree is in active production. Also, with foliage limited to the top of the tree (to facilitate tapping), the intake of carbon dioxide is less than in a wild tree. Other trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants produce rubber, but, because none of them compares for efficiency with Hevea brasiliensis, industry botanists have concentrated their efforts exclusively on this species.

In the cultivation of Hevea, the natural contours of the land are followed, and the trees are protected from wind. Cover crops planted adjacent to the rubber trees hold rainwater on sloping ground and help to fertilize the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Standard horticultural techniques, such as nursery growing of hardy rootstocks and grafting on top of them, hand pollination, and vegetative propagation (cloning) to produce a genetically uniform product, are also employed.

Hevea grows only within a well-defined area of the tropics and subtropics where frost is never encountered. Heavy annual rainfall of about 2,500 mm (100 inches) is essential, with emphasis on a wet spring. As a consequence of these requirements, growing areas are limited. Southeast Asia is particularly well situated for rubber culture; so too are parts of South Asia and West Africa. Cultivation of Hevea in Brazil, its native habitat, was virtually destroyed by blight early in the 20th century.

Transplanting Palm Tree From A Container Into The Ground

After growing in a container for a few years, palm trees should be transplant into the ground. Early spring would be the best time for transplanting due to a rapid root growth during warm months. Try to do it later in the day when it is not too hot.
Be ready for the palm tree to undergo what is known as “transplant shock”. It happens because roots get exposed to air, light and new soil. To minimize the shock, acclimatize your palm by placing it in the new location a week prior to transplanting. That way by the time you are ready to do transplanting it will be used to the new light levels and temperatures of that area.
Step 1: Select a location. Start by selecting a new location in the yard. The best way to in-vision the palm tree in its new location is to place it there while it is in the container. Think about the amount of light it will be receiving in that area. While some palms need full sun, some palms prefer partial sun or shade.
Step 2: Start by digging a hole. The hole should be twice the diameter of the container.
Step 3: Think about the soil. Check to see what type of soil you have in your garden. Since palms like good drainage, adding sand can help a lot. Some palm enthusiasts like to supplement the native soil with some organic soil, while others use only the native soil. I agree that the palm roots will eventually have to get used to the soil of your garden even if you apply the organic soil mix when planting. But, I also think that mixing them together will minimize the transplant shock. If you have a clay soil, use a three parts of native soil, one part of organic soil mix and one part of sand. If you have a sandy soil, use three parts of native soil with one part of an organic soil mix.
Step 4: Removing palm tree from a container. If you have a small palm, about 5 gallon, flip it upside down and tap the bottom of the pot. The palm should slide out. If you have a larger palm, carefully place it on its side and gently slide the root ball out the pot. If it is in a plastic container, cut it with scissors first. It is important not to damage the root ball. After growing in the pot for some time, the roots of the palm wrap around the inside of the container. There is no need to trim the them. Try to plant your palm as soon as possible.
Step 5: Planting the palm. Palm tree should be planted to the same depth at which they were previously growing. Planting it too deep may result in a root rot development due to nutrient deficiencies and water stress. Some palms might suffer from it for many years and can die at any time. Place some soil mix into the hole and water it. You don’t need to remove soil around the root ball. Leaving the old soil around the roots will decrease the transplant shock.
Place the palm in the center of the hole. Then backfill the hole with a soil mix making sure there is no air pockets. If you don’t pack the soil properly, the root ball can sink into the hole over time resulting in a palm being too deep in the ground.
Step 6: Soil barrier. Build a soil barrier outside of the hole to form a dam that will retain water. Now, you are ready to drench the palm with water. The goal is to make sure there is enough moister around the roots to avoid root hardening.
Step 7: Watering the palm. Deep watering works the best. Leave a water hose near the base of the palm with slow running water for 20 min. This will guarantee the soil had time to absorb all the water. You should water new planted palm every two days for the first two weeks. Then slowly get to the regular watering schedule.
Step 8: Fertilizing a palm. I see that a lot of web sites recommend fertilizing a palm right after planting. Do NOT apply any fertilizer. Give your palm enough time to get used to the new place. Apply a slow release fertilizer after you see a new growth. That would be about two months after planting. Fertilizing the palm after planting will create more unnecessary stress adding to the transplant shock.
Step 9: Provide Support. Tall palm trees should be provided with some support to avoid toppling over. Use 3-4 wooden blocks and adjustable straps to support the palm. Don’t nail supporting blocks directly into the trunk. The support should be left for one year.

Cassava production in Nigeria

Cassava processing in Obudu, southern Nigeria

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) production is vital to the economy of Nigeria as the country is the world's largest producer of the commodity. The crop is produced in 24 of the country's 36 states. In 1999, Nigeria produced 33 million tonnes, while a decade later, it produced approximately 45 million tonnes, which is almost 19% of production in the world. The average yield per hectare is 10.6 tonnes.
In Nigeria, cassava production is well-developed as an organized agricultural crop. It has well-established multiplication and processing techniques for food products and cattle feed. There are more than 40 cassava varieties in use. Cassava is processed in many processing centres and fabricating enterprises set up in the country.

Production

Casava (Manihot esculenta) roots

Peeled casava

In Nigeria, cassava production is well-developed as an organized agricultural crop. It has well-established multiplication and processing techniques for food products and cattle feed. There are more than 40 cassava varieties in use. Though the crop is produced in 24 of the country's 36 states, cassava production dominates the southern part of the country, both in terms of area covered and number of farmers growing the crop. Planting occurs during four planting seasons in the various geo-ecological zones. The major states of Nigeria which produce cassava are Anambra, Delta, Edo, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Oyo, and Rivers, and to a lesser extent Kwara and Ondo.^[3]
In 1999, Nigeria produced 33 million tonnes, while a decade later, it produced approximately 45 million tonnes, which is almost 19% of production in the world. As of 2000, the average yield per hectare was 10.6 tonnes.
Cassava is grown throughout the year, making it preferable to the seasonal crops of yam, beans or peas. It displays an exceptional ability to adapt to climate change, with a tolerance to low soil fertility, resistance to drought conditions, pests and diseases, and suitability to store its roots for long periods underground even after they mature. Use of fertilizers is limited, and it is also grown on fallow lands.Harvesting of the roots after planting varies from 6 months to 3 years.
The land holding for farming in Nigeria is between 0.5–2.5 hectares (1.2–6.2 acres), with about 90% of producers being small-scale farms. In order to increase production, several varieties of cassava have been developed which are pest resistant; production in the country is hampered with problems with green mite, the cassava mealybug, and the variegated grasshopper. Diseases affecting cassava crop are mosaic disease, bacterial blight, anthracnose, and root rot.

Uses

Cassava, which is rich in starch in the form of carbohydrate, has multiple uses. It is consumed in many processed forms, in the industry and also as livestock feed. Roots or leaves are made into flours. Flours are of three types, yellow garri, white garri, or intermediate colour, with yellow garri considered the best product in Nigeria. Its other products are as dry extraction of starch, glue or adhesives, modified starch in pharmaceutical as dextrines, as processing inputs, as industrial starch for drilling, and processed foods