by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | agriculture, farmers, farming, government, military
PETALONG JAYA: Today, the Ministry of Defence introduced the JanaVeteran programme aimed at assisting veterans who have entered the agricultural sector.
The initiative, a joint effort by Boustead Plantations Bhd (BPlant) and the veterans’ affairs department, centers on agri-entrepreneurship via a ginger and chili fertigation project.
According to a Bernama report, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin emphasized the initiative’s ability to assist veterans in earning an income and bolstering Malaysia’s food security.
As part of the ginger and chili fertigation program, BPlant will allocate a 105-hectare area for farming purposes; this includes cultivating ginger across 80 hectares and chilies over 25 hectares.
In the first stage of the program, 100 veterans will be involved in overseeing the farming activities, where each individual could earn up to RM3,000 per month.
He mentioned that the trial initiative would commence in Kota Tinggi, Johor, where 15 ex-servicemen will work on a 12-hectare area aiming to produce 3,500 tons of ginger and 350 tons of chili peppers per year over a span of three years.
Moreover, a program for experienced agrarian entrepreneurs seeks to convert retired military individuals into farming business owners by growing crop varieties included in the National Food Security initiative.
BPlant has recognized 300 hectares of terrain for this project.
Khaled revealed this information at the breaking-fast event hosted by the defense ministry in Kuala Lumpur. The gathering saw the presence of prominent ministry officials along with military leaders.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | farmers, farming sector, funding, investors, rural development
The African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has unveiled plans to establish a $500 million fund aimed at unlocking up to $10 billion in financial support for small-scale farmers and small agricultural businesses throughout Africa.
At the High-Level Conference on Scaling Finance for Smallholder Farmers held in Nairobi, Adesina disclosed that the Bank’s leadership is actively engaging with its Board of Directors to set up this innovative funding mechanism.
The facility will utilize various financial tools such as trade credit guarantees, first-loss coverage, blended finance approaches, and origination incentives to lower the elevated transaction costs associated with servicing businesses. This effort will be supported by providing technical assistance.
“We are at the cusp of making history through our efforts to push the limits of innovation and form broad collaborative partnerships aimed at addressing the funding shortfall faced by small-scale farmers and agricultural businesses,” stated Adesina during his keynote speech.
Co-organized alongside the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO), this conference aimed at tackling Africa’s significant $75 billion yearly funding shortfall faced by farmers and agribusinesses.
Adesina,
who has been granted Kenya’s top national distinction lately
As stated by President William Ruto–there is an urgent call for worldwide efforts: “Let us join hands to unlock the power of agriculture across Africa. Our aim should be to transform Africa into the world’s granary. Together, let’s nourish our continent with pride!”
Advancements Since the Dakar 2 Feed Africa Summit
Adesina pointed out significant advancements made since the 2023 Dakar Feed Africa Summit, during which 34 African leaders pledged their commitment to enhancing food security and sovereignty.
Development partners’ financial pledges have skyrocketed from their original commitment of $30 billion to an impressive $72 billion within just one year. In this effort, the African Development Bank alone committed $10 billion. To date, the bank has greenlit 77 initiatives totaling $3.9 billion aimed at supporting the execution of Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts in 32 nations. Furthermore, they plan to approve another $1.72 billion before the end of this year for these endeavors.
Major programs aiding small-scale farmers
The Bank has initiated numerous key programs to bolster smallholder farmers:
1.
2.
(The numbered list format was not originally present but added as per instruction since the original text did not contain any specific points.)
The TAAT program has extended advanced, climate-adaptive crop varieties to 25 million farmers across Africa, thereby increasing the continent’s agricultural output by 120 million tons.
The $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility has distributed 459,000 tons of seeds and 2.8 million tons of fertilizers to 12.3 million farmers, resulting in the production of 37.6 million metric tons of food.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program has committed $934.51 million, supplemented by $938.27 million in co-financing, aiding 27 initiatives across 11 nations.
The AFAWA initiative has granted $2.52 billion in financing to support 24,000 enterprises owned by women across Africa.
The African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism has introduced trade credit guarantees across nine nations, delivering 125,193 metric tons of fertilizer valued at $62.8 million to 776,971 small-scale farmers.
The Input Suppliers Risk Sharing Initiative, a $600 million program, aims to mitigate risks within the input supply chain across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Zambia.
The MADE Alliance Africa, working alongside Mastercard, has secured a commitment of $300 million from the Bank to incorporate 3 million farmers across Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria into the digital economy.
Addressing persistent challenges
At present, merely 6% of African smallholder farmers can obtain credit, and fewer than 20% utilize enhanced seeds. Lenders frequently view these farmers as risky clients because of unpredictable weather patterns and insufficient security assets. The agricultural sector receives minimal bank loans, constituting under 5% of overall loan portfolios across numerous African nations, even though farming significantly impacts their economies.
“Some of you might recognize these figures; however, the rest of us ought to find them disheartening. It’s crucial that we take action immediately to alter this situation,” emphasized Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development at the Bank, during her address at the inaugural session on Monday.
PAFO President Ibrahima Coulibaly called upon all parties involved to act decisively, stating: “Should we wish to rescue our continent from hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, it is imperative that we generate employment opportunities within the agricultural sector. No other industry has the potential to accomplish this.”
The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Senator Mutahi Kagwe, urged immediate action saying, “By focusing on innovative and feasible strategies, we can revamp agriculture as a profitable venture. We must ensure that not a single farmer is excluded from this progress because they lack financial resources.”
On Tuesday, a group of prominent international and African financial specialists likewise made a strong appeal to synchronize financial systems with the requirements of small-scale farmers. They emphasized the vital function of governments in fostering an atmosphere where financial institutions can increase their loans for agriculture.
Click
here
To view additional photographs from the Scaling Finance for Smallholder Farmers Conference.
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | agriculture, farmers, farming, government, politics
The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyeditiwa, has stated that his government is dedicated to promoting extensive agricultural activities within the region.
During his visit to the two private mechanized farms — SAO Agro Farms and JB Farms Limited, situated in Ore, the administrative center of Odigbo Local Government Area, Aiyedatiwa made these comments. These farms have partnered with the state government.
The information was included in a press release distributed by Governor’s chief spokesperson, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, and handed over to our representative on Monday.
As stated, following his inspection of the palm plantation and its processing facility, the governor praised the remarkable change from a thick forest area to a very efficient farming operation.
He remarked, “As evident, we’re looking at an exceptionally vast estate—the largest I’ve come across. It was once dense woodland, yet it’s been transformed into a highly profitable enterprise. Both the scale of the plantation and the comprehensive infrastructural advancements are truly remarkable.”
This investment extends far beyond merely planting palm trees; the company has also constructed roads and is currently building a state-of-the-art processing plant. As stated by the CEO, this facility will be finished the following year and prepared for operation. It’s an extensive investment worthy of praise.
The governor issued an order for all unlawful cultivators occupying the agricultural land to leave the area, assuring that the administration would offer substitute plots of farmland to those who were forced to move.
During his speech, the CEO of SAO Agro, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, showed gratitude for the governmental backing and highlighted the organization’s enduring objectives.
“At SAO Agro, we hold the belief that farming extends beyond mere food production; it plays a crucial role in building nations. Our dedication lies in cultivating an agrarian environment that promotes wealth for cultivators, societies, and our country as a whole. We value Governor Aiyedatiwa’s support and anticipate expanding our partnership to advance agricultural change,” he stated.
The CEO of JB Farms Limited, Mr Ajibola Adebutu, mentioned in his remarks that the farm initiated operations in August 2021 and has subsequently cleared around 7,500 hectares of land, out of which 5,000 hectares have been cultivated.
“This location was previously a hideout for kidnappers and armed bandits about five to six years back. Upon our arrival, we were unable to move around without being encircled by police officers and military personnel. However, nowadays, I am able to stand here unencumbered as circumstances have improved. Individuals inclined towards criminal activities have either departed or secured jobs locally, thereby providing them with lawful sources of income,” he stated.
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