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		<title>Nigeria Knowledge Center - All Forums</title>
		<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/</link>
		<description>Nigeria Knowledge Center - http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload</description>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:41:40 +0100</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Health Alert - What Every Concerned Citizen Must Know</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=33</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:46:08 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=33</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[There is no doubt that we live in a global village where what happens in one part of the world affects the other in a very short time. Whether we are talking about products made in Nigeria, China or India, you could purchase these products at any corner of the world where they are shipped and made available. It takes a matter of a week or more to get to their destinations.  However, when it comes to diseases, it takes just a person carrying the infection in a 5-10 hour trip from one part of the globe to another to transmit the disease. Whether it is HIV or the latest outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, it could move with a speed of light to any part of the world. 

The latest outbreak of MRSA calls for revaluation of our response to monitoring and controlling the spread of deadly diseases and infectious bacteria in our country and our borders. Already MRSA kills 19, 000 Americans annually (more than HIV). With the latest United States media attention to the infection, any government concerned with the wealth fare of its people must be at high alert to combat the spread of the infectious bacteria and the disease, even though it may not have reached its borders. 

By giving out this information, it is a call for people in Nigeria to be aware of this deadly disease. Thanks to American media – the information about MSRA and the recent death of a school boy, the spread of this disease is getting the publicity that it deserves. It is a call to action to Nigeria government to join the campaign. Unfortunately the disease has no peculiar symptoms in the country, therefore a cause for worries 

What I have stated here is important, because of the neglect of the health care sector by previous administration in the country. HIV/AIDS is spreading and killing people and the source remains a problem. Even without knowing the source, if we had joined the campaign to stop the disease as United States did in the 80’s the spread of the disease would not be as problematic as it is today. 

We often forget that healthy people make a healthy and wealthy nation. The situation of health care may be improving in Nigeria, but this moment calls for Nigerian authority to take immediate action. Dealing with HIV/AIDS is already overwhelming project and adding the spread of MRSA - that has no known cure for now is a double whammy that Nigeria may not be able to deal with.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[There is no doubt that we live in a global village where what happens in one part of the world affects the other in a very short time. Whether we are talking about products made in Nigeria, China or India, you could purchase these products at any corner of the world where they are shipped and made available. It takes a matter of a week or more to get to their destinations.  However, when it comes to diseases, it takes just a person carrying the infection in a 5-10 hour trip from one part of the globe to another to transmit the disease. Whether it is HIV or the latest outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, it could move with a speed of light to any part of the world. 

The latest outbreak of MRSA calls for revaluation of our response to monitoring and controlling the spread of deadly diseases and infectious bacteria in our country and our borders. Already MRSA kills 19, 000 Americans annually (more than HIV). With the latest United States media attention to the infection, any government concerned with the wealth fare of its people must be at high alert to combat the spread of the infectious bacteria and the disease, even though it may not have reached its borders. 

By giving out this information, it is a call for people in Nigeria to be aware of this deadly disease. Thanks to American media – the information about MSRA and the recent death of a school boy, the spread of this disease is getting the publicity that it deserves. It is a call to action to Nigeria government to join the campaign. Unfortunately the disease has no peculiar symptoms in the country, therefore a cause for worries 

What I have stated here is important, because of the neglect of the health care sector by previous administration in the country. HIV/AIDS is spreading and killing people and the source remains a problem. Even without knowing the source, if we had joined the campaign to stop the disease as United States did in the 80’s the spread of the disease would not be as problematic as it is today. 

We often forget that healthy people make a healthy and wealthy nation. The situation of health care may be improving in Nigeria, but this moment calls for Nigerian authority to take immediate action. Dealing with HIV/AIDS is already overwhelming project and adding the spread of MRSA - that has no known cure for now is a double whammy that Nigeria may not be able to deal with.  ]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title>Africa: Small Scale Farming Key to Fighting Poverty, Says Annan</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=31</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:13:25 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=31</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[14 June 2007
Posted to the web 14 June 2007

Helen Kilbey
Cape Town

The key to ending poverty in Africa is the development of small-scale farming, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told a session of the World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday.

"Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where per capita food production has steadily declined," Annan said in a keynote address delivered in Cape Town. "One-third of the continent's population is chronically undernourished. Most of our farmers lack access to productive crop varieties, adequate water resources and soil nutrients."

Poverty has to be addressed at its core, he said. "In Africa, this means enabling small-scale farmers to grow and sell Africa's food."

In practical terms, this would involve "dramatically increas[ing] the productivity, food security, incomes and livelihoods of small-scale farmers, many of whom are women," he added.

Annan announced at the forum that he had accepted the position of chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The Alliance was formed last year in response to calls from African leaders to "chart a new path for prosperity by spurring the continent's agricultural development," according to a statement from AGRA released in conjunction with his announcement.

Programs to promote small-scale farming have been developed in both Asia and Latin America in recent decades, and Annan said the Alliance would build on the achievements and lessons learned from these continents' experiences.

He emphasized, however, that the revolution the Alliance envisages will be uniquely African.

"Ours is a revolution of the 21st century, one that we Africans will own, whose destiny we will shape, and which responds to the specific environmental challenges faced by our continent….African nations and farmers will choose those that are best suited for our African cultures, climates, and economies."

He stressed that the Alliance's hoped-for "revolution" would not be just another rhetorical exercise: "I have spent decades listening to people talk about Africa's problems, making promises to help. It's an experience that has left me thirsty for concrete action."

The Alliance has laid out a five-year plan to provide more agricultural education, improve the health of Africa's soil, improve water management, and to bring about systemic changes involving crop-storage, processing and transport to markets. It has also undertaken to tackle problems at development policy level at the same time.

AGRA is funded by an initial grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, but is looking for partnerships with all sectors of society.

On Annan's appointment as chairman, AGRA board member Strive Masiyiwa said: "It has been very clear that to galvanize Africa's energy and to bring about the drive for this initiative, we need unique leadership. And not only has Africa raised such a leader, but the time is now and the man is here."

Copyright © 2007 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[14 June 2007
Posted to the web 14 June 2007

Helen Kilbey
Cape Town

The key to ending poverty in Africa is the development of small-scale farming, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told a session of the World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday.

"Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where per capita food production has steadily declined," Annan said in a keynote address delivered in Cape Town. "One-third of the continent's population is chronically undernourished. Most of our farmers lack access to productive crop varieties, adequate water resources and soil nutrients."

Poverty has to be addressed at its core, he said. "In Africa, this means enabling small-scale farmers to grow and sell Africa's food."

In practical terms, this would involve "dramatically increas[ing] the productivity, food security, incomes and livelihoods of small-scale farmers, many of whom are women," he added.

Annan announced at the forum that he had accepted the position of chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The Alliance was formed last year in response to calls from African leaders to "chart a new path for prosperity by spurring the continent's agricultural development," according to a statement from AGRA released in conjunction with his announcement.

Programs to promote small-scale farming have been developed in both Asia and Latin America in recent decades, and Annan said the Alliance would build on the achievements and lessons learned from these continents' experiences.

He emphasized, however, that the revolution the Alliance envisages will be uniquely African.

"Ours is a revolution of the 21st century, one that we Africans will own, whose destiny we will shape, and which responds to the specific environmental challenges faced by our continent….African nations and farmers will choose those that are best suited for our African cultures, climates, and economies."

He stressed that the Alliance's hoped-for "revolution" would not be just another rhetorical exercise: "I have spent decades listening to people talk about Africa's problems, making promises to help. It's an experience that has left me thirsty for concrete action."

The Alliance has laid out a five-year plan to provide more agricultural education, improve the health of Africa's soil, improve water management, and to bring about systemic changes involving crop-storage, processing and transport to markets. It has also undertaken to tackle problems at development policy level at the same time.

AGRA is funded by an initial grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, but is looking for partnerships with all sectors of society.

On Annan's appointment as chairman, AGRA board member Strive Masiyiwa said: "It has been very clear that to galvanize Africa's energy and to bring about the drive for this initiative, we need unique leadership. And not only has Africa raised such a leader, but the time is now and the man is here."

Copyright © 2007 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>North West Ohio Mega Farms Practices (Videos)</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=30</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 19:54:05 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=30</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Please click on this page to view the latest panel discussion how to make large farms raising animals  profitable.  You may find something useful for your own farms in Ihiala.

http://www.wbgu.org/community/local/Mega...page2.html]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Please click on this page to view the latest panel discussion how to make large farms raising animals  profitable.  You may find something useful for your own farms in Ihiala.

http://www.wbgu.org/community/local/Mega...page2.html]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>U.S. First Lady Speaks on African Malaria Eradication Initiative</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=29</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 17:00:23 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=29</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[First Lady Calls for Action to End Malaria
 by Farai Chideya 

Hear an Excerpt from Wednesday's Interview 
 
Enlarge Evan Vucci
Laura Bush gives a speech on the president's malaria initiative, Thursday, June 8, 2006, in Washington, D.C. AP 

More from the First Lady
Web-only excerpts from the 'News & Notes' interview with First Lady Laura Bush

Bush Talks About Targeted Efforts to Help Troubled Boys in the United States 
Bush Offers Thoughts on Her Legacy 
 
 
 
Enlarge Jim Watson
First lady Laura Bush speaks at the Accra Teacher Training Centre in Accra, Ghana, on Jan. 17, 2006. AFP/Getty Images 

News & Notes, April 25, 2007 · In December 2006, President Bush set aside April 25 as Malaria Awareness Day. Part of a sweeping new American effort to fight the disease globally, the day is intended to raise awareness of a preventable and curable disease that kills more than 1 million people each year.

Most of these deaths occur in Africa. First lady Laura Bush has traveled to the continent a number of times during her six years in the White House, and she has been speaking out about her experiences there. An excerpt of Farai Chideya's conversation with the first lady about efforts to end one of the world's deadliest diseases.

What is your goal with National Malaria Awareness Day? What do you hope to accomplish with this?

What we hope to accomplish is really to just get the word out so that people know that malaria is still a problem in many parts of the world. 

We had malaria in the United States. There was malaria here in Washington along the Potomac, as well as along the Mississippi, and in a great part of the southeastern part of the United States. We eradicated it around the first of the last century. So we know it can be eradicated, and that makes it even more imperative for all of us to work together to make sure it's eradicated across sub-Saharan Africa. 

You feel so bad and so sick when you have malaria that you wish you would just go ahead and die, one friend told me who had had it. We know that not only is it so difficult on everyone, and on families that lose their children, but also it's very difficult on governments and economies. When a lot of people are too sick to work, when the hospitals are filled with malaria, it really is very difficult for economies to get a good footing. 

What's America's stake in this? There are a lot of issues that Americans have on their minds right now: the economy, national security. Why would someone who is already feeling maybe a little overburdened tune into this one?

Because there is something people can do that is very, very direct, and especially I'd like to reach out to families to think about involving your children in this. If you can raise &#36;10, you can call Malaria No More... to give an insecticide-treated bed net to a child or a mother and a child in Africa, and save a life. 

A lot of times in developing countries, including African nations, different diseases basically work together to keep people in a state of ill health, so you have not only malaria; you also have TB, you also have AIDS. 

Well, they really do fit together, and the other piece that's a part of it is malnutrition. If your immune system is already compromised because of HIV or malaria or tuberculosis, malnutrition is that much harder on you. So there should be a very comprehensive approach to both eradicating malaria and at the same time treating people with HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis, and making sure that people get the food that they need, the nutrition they need to stay in good health.

Your husband has included faith-based organizations in all different walks of social programs. What is the upside to you, and is there a downside to doing that?

Well, the upside is that many of these faith-based organizations are already there... churches and synagogues... that are local. They are the one really trusted group — the church in the local community or the mosque in the local community. It's the one trusted group in the community. And so they are there already, they already know people, they already have a congregation and a way to reach out to, for instance, pass out bed nets or to help with spraying.

In South Africa, the government has been criticized recently for not doing enough to stop AIDS from anything ranging from the rape case, which ultimately did not result in a conviction against the deputy president and then – a view that the government as a whole has not been active enough. In the U.S. at this current point, we do not emphasize condoms as much as we emphasize abstinence when we talk about AIDS. Do you see that as a risk in America's role in fighting AIDS in Africa and around the world?

Well, the president's emergency plan on AIDS relief does emphasize the ABC program that has been effective in Uganda, which is abstinence, be faithful, and use — consistent use of condoms. So they do — they realize that there is a role for everything. I think there is a lot of criticism of discussing abstinence, but I think in a society where there are a lot of gender issues, it's very important for girls to know that they do not have to comply with the wishes of men, and that girls can remain abstinent. I think it's an important message, especially for girls to get, but for boys too.

And each part is important. Condoms are very important, and the use of condoms are very important, and we need to have that message out, sure. But I also think that the other two messages are important as well.

 
Related NPR Stories
March 20, 2007
Altered Mosquitoes May Save Humans From Malaria 
March 20, 2007
Africa News: Zimbabwe, Malaria, AIDS in S. Africa 
March 9, 2007
Nigeria's Neglected Diseases 
Dec. 22, 2006
Could a New Vaccine Contain Malaria's Spread? 
Dec. 15, 2006
White House Hosts Summit on Malaria 
Dec. 14, 2006
Protecting Against an Old Killer: Malaria 

Visit http://www.npr.org for more details on Chideya's program. Please note all copyright belongs to National Public Radio Organization.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[First Lady Calls for Action to End Malaria
 by Farai Chideya 

Hear an Excerpt from Wednesday's Interview 
 
Enlarge Evan Vucci
Laura Bush gives a speech on the president's malaria initiative, Thursday, June 8, 2006, in Washington, D.C. AP 

More from the First Lady
Web-only excerpts from the 'News & Notes' interview with First Lady Laura Bush

Bush Talks About Targeted Efforts to Help Troubled Boys in the United States 
Bush Offers Thoughts on Her Legacy 
 
 
 
Enlarge Jim Watson
First lady Laura Bush speaks at the Accra Teacher Training Centre in Accra, Ghana, on Jan. 17, 2006. AFP/Getty Images 

News & Notes, April 25, 2007 · In December 2006, President Bush set aside April 25 as Malaria Awareness Day. Part of a sweeping new American effort to fight the disease globally, the day is intended to raise awareness of a preventable and curable disease that kills more than 1 million people each year.

Most of these deaths occur in Africa. First lady Laura Bush has traveled to the continent a number of times during her six years in the White House, and she has been speaking out about her experiences there. An excerpt of Farai Chideya's conversation with the first lady about efforts to end one of the world's deadliest diseases.

What is your goal with National Malaria Awareness Day? What do you hope to accomplish with this?

What we hope to accomplish is really to just get the word out so that people know that malaria is still a problem in many parts of the world. 

We had malaria in the United States. There was malaria here in Washington along the Potomac, as well as along the Mississippi, and in a great part of the southeastern part of the United States. We eradicated it around the first of the last century. So we know it can be eradicated, and that makes it even more imperative for all of us to work together to make sure it's eradicated across sub-Saharan Africa. 

You feel so bad and so sick when you have malaria that you wish you would just go ahead and die, one friend told me who had had it. We know that not only is it so difficult on everyone, and on families that lose their children, but also it's very difficult on governments and economies. When a lot of people are too sick to work, when the hospitals are filled with malaria, it really is very difficult for economies to get a good footing. 

What's America's stake in this? There are a lot of issues that Americans have on their minds right now: the economy, national security. Why would someone who is already feeling maybe a little overburdened tune into this one?

Because there is something people can do that is very, very direct, and especially I'd like to reach out to families to think about involving your children in this. If you can raise &#36;10, you can call Malaria No More... to give an insecticide-treated bed net to a child or a mother and a child in Africa, and save a life. 

A lot of times in developing countries, including African nations, different diseases basically work together to keep people in a state of ill health, so you have not only malaria; you also have TB, you also have AIDS. 

Well, they really do fit together, and the other piece that's a part of it is malnutrition. If your immune system is already compromised because of HIV or malaria or tuberculosis, malnutrition is that much harder on you. So there should be a very comprehensive approach to both eradicating malaria and at the same time treating people with HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis, and making sure that people get the food that they need, the nutrition they need to stay in good health.

Your husband has included faith-based organizations in all different walks of social programs. What is the upside to you, and is there a downside to doing that?

Well, the upside is that many of these faith-based organizations are already there... churches and synagogues... that are local. They are the one really trusted group — the church in the local community or the mosque in the local community. It's the one trusted group in the community. And so they are there already, they already know people, they already have a congregation and a way to reach out to, for instance, pass out bed nets or to help with spraying.

In South Africa, the government has been criticized recently for not doing enough to stop AIDS from anything ranging from the rape case, which ultimately did not result in a conviction against the deputy president and then – a view that the government as a whole has not been active enough. In the U.S. at this current point, we do not emphasize condoms as much as we emphasize abstinence when we talk about AIDS. Do you see that as a risk in America's role in fighting AIDS in Africa and around the world?

Well, the president's emergency plan on AIDS relief does emphasize the ABC program that has been effective in Uganda, which is abstinence, be faithful, and use — consistent use of condoms. So they do — they realize that there is a role for everything. I think there is a lot of criticism of discussing abstinence, but I think in a society where there are a lot of gender issues, it's very important for girls to know that they do not have to comply with the wishes of men, and that girls can remain abstinent. I think it's an important message, especially for girls to get, but for boys too.

And each part is important. Condoms are very important, and the use of condoms are very important, and we need to have that message out, sure. But I also think that the other two messages are important as well.

 
Related NPR Stories
March 20, 2007
Altered Mosquitoes May Save Humans From Malaria 
March 20, 2007
Africa News: Zimbabwe, Malaria, AIDS in S. Africa 
March 9, 2007
Nigeria's Neglected Diseases 
Dec. 22, 2006
Could a New Vaccine Contain Malaria's Spread? 
Dec. 15, 2006
White House Hosts Summit on Malaria 
Dec. 14, 2006
Protecting Against an Old Killer: Malaria 

Visit http://www.npr.org for more details on Chideya's program. Please note all copyright belongs to National Public Radio Organization.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>WWW.NPR.ORG SERIES ON NIGERIA &amp; HEALTH CARE</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=28</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 16:48:30 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=28</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Nigeria's Neglected Diseases
 Joanne Silberner, NPR Neglected diseases are illnesses that don't kill, at least not very quickly. Schistosomiasis, guinea worm and lymphatic filariasis are all caused by parasites and can leave their victims maimed and at times ostracized. But as AIDS and malaria capture attention and resources, these infections are overlooked. 


In this Series
Overview: Parasitic Diseases Thrive in AIDS' Shadow 
 
March 12, 2007 · Parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis have come to be called neglected diseases, even though they infect about 1 billion people worldwide and are easily preventable. But some international donors are trying to change that in Nigeria. 

 
Part 1: Stamping Out Guinea Worm 
 
March 3, 2007 · In the rainy season, southeastern Nigeria is dotted with ponds and lakes. Until recently, many of them harbored the debilitating guinea worm parasite. Now, a relentless effort to eradicate it in Nigeria is close to success. 

 
Part 2: Making the Case for Schistosomiasis 
 
March 12, 2007 · Despite the toll it can take, schistosomiasis is not an international health priority. The waterborne disease eats away at the intestines, causing bleeding and anemia. One doctor hopes the results of her research in Nigeria will persuade authorities to provide money for medicine. 

 
Part 3: A Doctor's Commitment 
 
March 13, 2007 · Dr. Frank Richards specializes in the infectious diseases that are rampant in developing countries, especially diseases that target children. For 25 years, he has worked in uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions to help people who are struggling to survive. 

 
Part 4: Learning to Live with a Disfiguring Disease 
 
March 18, 2007 · In central Nigeria, a health worker has started a support group for people with a disfiguring and painful condition, lymphatic filariasis. Often shunned by their families and communities, members of the group learn how to treat the condition and reclaim their lives. 

More of these stories could be browsed and read on http://www.npr.org]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nigeria's Neglected Diseases
 Joanne Silberner, NPR Neglected diseases are illnesses that don't kill, at least not very quickly. Schistosomiasis, guinea worm and lymphatic filariasis are all caused by parasites and can leave their victims maimed and at times ostracized. But as AIDS and malaria capture attention and resources, these infections are overlooked. 


In this Series
Overview: Parasitic Diseases Thrive in AIDS' Shadow 
 
March 12, 2007 · Parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis have come to be called neglected diseases, even though they infect about 1 billion people worldwide and are easily preventable. But some international donors are trying to change that in Nigeria. 

 
Part 1: Stamping Out Guinea Worm 
 
March 3, 2007 · In the rainy season, southeastern Nigeria is dotted with ponds and lakes. Until recently, many of them harbored the debilitating guinea worm parasite. Now, a relentless effort to eradicate it in Nigeria is close to success. 

 
Part 2: Making the Case for Schistosomiasis 
 
March 12, 2007 · Despite the toll it can take, schistosomiasis is not an international health priority. The waterborne disease eats away at the intestines, causing bleeding and anemia. One doctor hopes the results of her research in Nigeria will persuade authorities to provide money for medicine. 

 
Part 3: A Doctor's Commitment 
 
March 13, 2007 · Dr. Frank Richards specializes in the infectious diseases that are rampant in developing countries, especially diseases that target children. For 25 years, he has worked in uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions to help people who are struggling to survive. 

 
Part 4: Learning to Live with a Disfiguring Disease 
 
March 18, 2007 · In central Nigeria, a health worker has started a support group for people with a disfiguring and painful condition, lymphatic filariasis. Often shunned by their families and communities, members of the group learn how to treat the condition and reclaim their lives. 

More of these stories could be browsed and read on http://www.npr.org]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Soil Erosion Hazard</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=27</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 14:42:35 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=27</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[I read an article on soil erosion as an agricultural production challenge. Below is a summary of that article. 

Soil erosion: An agricultural production challenge
by Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Department of Agronomy

Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. Many agricultural civilizations have declined due to land and natural resource mismanagement, and the history of such civilizations is a good reminder to protect our natural resources.


Erosion is a serious problem for productive agricultural land and for water quality concerns. Controlling the sediment must be an integral part of any soil management system to improve water and soil quality. Eroded topsoil can be transported by wind or water into streams and other waterways. Sediment is a product of land erosion and derives largely from sheet and rill erosion from upland areas, and to a lesser degree, from cyclic erosion activity in gullies and drainageways.

The impact of soil erosion on water quality becomes significant, particularly as soil surface runoff. Sediment production and soil erosion are closely related. Therefore, the most effective way to minimize sediment production is the stabilization of the sediment source by controlling erosion. Several conservation practices can be used to control erosion but first you need to understand the factors affecting soil erosion. Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil particles from the point of origination through the action of water or wind. Thus, minimizing the impact of water or wind forces is the main objective for erosion control. Water erosion is the most pertinent erosion problem in Iowa.

Soil erosion by water occurs when bare-sloped soil surface is exposed to rainfall, and the rainfall intensity exceeds the rate of soil intake, or infiltration rate, leading to soil-surface runoff. Soil erosion can occur in two stages: 1) detachment of soil particles by raindrop impact, splash, or flowing water; and 2) transport of detached particles by splash or flowing water. Therefore, soil erosion is a physical process requiring energy, and its control requires certain measures to dissipate this energy.

The most effective way to control erosion is to maintain a permanent surface cover on the soil surface, such as pasture or meadow. Therefore, areas that are highly susceptible to water or wind erosion need to be considered for soil conservation programs. Soil losses in Iowa due to water erosion and surface runoff can contribute a great deal to surface water quality concerns.

Many studies indicate that soil erosion results in large decreases in soil productivity. In a study conducted at Iowa State University on 40 soil associations, Craft and coworkers (Proceedings of the National Symposium on Erosion and Soil Productivity, 1984) reported that the impact of soil erosion on soil productivity was largely determined by subsoil properties because they effect root growth, soil water availability, and plow layer fertility. Thus, the loss of the topsoil can have considerable impact on yield, where nutrient availability, root growth environment, and soil water availability are essential for plant development. In soils with unfavorable subsoil conditions, erosion can have a large effect on productivity, if the plow layer soil fertility is not restored.

Plant residue management is another way of controlling soil erosion by intercepting raindrops, thereby reducing surface runoff and protecting soil surface particle detachment by raindrop impact. Crop residue can provide an excellent soil cover after harvest and enhance snow harvesting during the off season, improve soil water intake by preventing soil surface sealing due to raindrop impact, and consequently, reduce surface runoff. Equally important in minimizing soil erosion is the adoption of a cropping system along with conservation tillage practices such as no-till, strip-till, and ridge-till. The degree of effectiveness of different tillage practices depends on the degree of soil manipulation, which effects the residue distribution on the soil surface.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[I read an article on soil erosion as an agricultural production challenge. Below is a summary of that article. 

Soil erosion: An agricultural production challenge
by Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Department of Agronomy

Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. Many agricultural civilizations have declined due to land and natural resource mismanagement, and the history of such civilizations is a good reminder to protect our natural resources.


Erosion is a serious problem for productive agricultural land and for water quality concerns. Controlling the sediment must be an integral part of any soil management system to improve water and soil quality. Eroded topsoil can be transported by wind or water into streams and other waterways. Sediment is a product of land erosion and derives largely from sheet and rill erosion from upland areas, and to a lesser degree, from cyclic erosion activity in gullies and drainageways.

The impact of soil erosion on water quality becomes significant, particularly as soil surface runoff. Sediment production and soil erosion are closely related. Therefore, the most effective way to minimize sediment production is the stabilization of the sediment source by controlling erosion. Several conservation practices can be used to control erosion but first you need to understand the factors affecting soil erosion. Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil particles from the point of origination through the action of water or wind. Thus, minimizing the impact of water or wind forces is the main objective for erosion control. Water erosion is the most pertinent erosion problem in Iowa.

Soil erosion by water occurs when bare-sloped soil surface is exposed to rainfall, and the rainfall intensity exceeds the rate of soil intake, or infiltration rate, leading to soil-surface runoff. Soil erosion can occur in two stages: 1) detachment of soil particles by raindrop impact, splash, or flowing water; and 2) transport of detached particles by splash or flowing water. Therefore, soil erosion is a physical process requiring energy, and its control requires certain measures to dissipate this energy.

The most effective way to control erosion is to maintain a permanent surface cover on the soil surface, such as pasture or meadow. Therefore, areas that are highly susceptible to water or wind erosion need to be considered for soil conservation programs. Soil losses in Iowa due to water erosion and surface runoff can contribute a great deal to surface water quality concerns.

Many studies indicate that soil erosion results in large decreases in soil productivity. In a study conducted at Iowa State University on 40 soil associations, Craft and coworkers (Proceedings of the National Symposium on Erosion and Soil Productivity, 1984) reported that the impact of soil erosion on soil productivity was largely determined by subsoil properties because they effect root growth, soil water availability, and plow layer fertility. Thus, the loss of the topsoil can have considerable impact on yield, where nutrient availability, root growth environment, and soil water availability are essential for plant development. In soils with unfavorable subsoil conditions, erosion can have a large effect on productivity, if the plow layer soil fertility is not restored.

Plant residue management is another way of controlling soil erosion by intercepting raindrops, thereby reducing surface runoff and protecting soil surface particle detachment by raindrop impact. Crop residue can provide an excellent soil cover after harvest and enhance snow harvesting during the off season, improve soil water intake by preventing soil surface sealing due to raindrop impact, and consequently, reduce surface runoff. Equally important in minimizing soil erosion is the adoption of a cropping system along with conservation tillage practices such as no-till, strip-till, and ridge-till. The degree of effectiveness of different tillage practices depends on the degree of soil manipulation, which effects the residue distribution on the soil surface.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Nigeria's Women SMEs Urged to Take Up Venture Capital Funds</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=25</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:00:03 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=25</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Nigeria: Women SMEs Urged to Take Up Venture Capital Funds

Vanguard (Lagos)
April 19, 2007
Posted to the web April 19, 2007
Lagos

FORMER Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged women entrepreneurs in the nation's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector not to shy away to take up venture capital funds, saying it is a powerful tool for growth of businesses.

Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke on 'Empowering Women through Venture Capital, during a training programmes organised by Gemstone Capital Consulting Limited , in Lagos, noted "the role of women in business in Africa is widely acknowledged. African women have been excellent entrepreneurs and traders, and played an important role in the growth of MSMEs in Africa. Both anecdotal and formal evidence points to their importance in this regard."

Conversely, she observed that despite their contribution in supporting economic growth, they face many challenges in starting and sustaining their businesses.
For instance, she said "there is evidence that in many countries women face discrimination in labor markets, resulting in them being marginalized from well-paid jobs.
The existence of gender discrimination also implies that women tend to have reduced access to productive assets such as land, often find it difficult to obtain credit facilities (when compared to men), and in some instances face insecure property rights and other socio-cultural barriers when starting their businesses."
In spite of everything, the ex Finance Minister, "let me propose three areas which I think must be explored to grow businesses.
They are Venture capital and other equity funds; Risks and guarantee schemes; Grameen-type bank facilities for women entrepreneurs."

"I believe venture capital funds can play an important role in addressing this gap. In fact, the goal of this current course is to enlighten you more on various ways in which venture capital funds can support the activities of women SMEs.
There are a number of interesting international examples of how this has been achieved.

"In the UK for example, the Natwest Bank formalized a 'Business Angels Service' which provides a link between informal investors and investors with enterprises which need capital. A database is established on each side - with information on preferences and requirements - and it helps in the match-making process. Similarly, the Enterprise 2000 Seed Capital Fund developed by the Bank of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland offer a mix of equity (about three-quarters) and loan (one quarter) to startups. The fund is partly owned by the State and private funds.

Our own attempt here to induce Banks to put aside 10 percent of their profits for equity investments in small and medium enterprises has not been such a success for a wide variety of reasons but that doesn't mean that we should abandon the idea or fail to revisit it in another form.

"Of course, there are other examples such as the Acumen Fund based in New York. The Fund commenced operations in 2001, and initially financed by the Rockefeller Foundation and other sponsors. Again they operate a very market-based approach to philanthropy: they operate as a venture capital fund which targets promising SME projects in some target sectors in developing countries.

The difference between them and regular venture capital funds is that their sponsors are prepared to accept less of a return on their investments, and to bear more risk. So, for example, where other funds look for 20 to 30 percent return on their risk capital, these special funds would accept 10 to 15 percent and sometimes even less - as long as they are able to finance socially relevant projects which make an impact," she stated.

NB: All Copyright Belongs to Vanguard Newspapers]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nigeria: Women SMEs Urged to Take Up Venture Capital Funds

Vanguard (Lagos)
April 19, 2007
Posted to the web April 19, 2007
Lagos

FORMER Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged women entrepreneurs in the nation's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector not to shy away to take up venture capital funds, saying it is a powerful tool for growth of businesses.

Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke on 'Empowering Women through Venture Capital, during a training programmes organised by Gemstone Capital Consulting Limited , in Lagos, noted "the role of women in business in Africa is widely acknowledged. African women have been excellent entrepreneurs and traders, and played an important role in the growth of MSMEs in Africa. Both anecdotal and formal evidence points to their importance in this regard."

Conversely, she observed that despite their contribution in supporting economic growth, they face many challenges in starting and sustaining their businesses.
For instance, she said "there is evidence that in many countries women face discrimination in labor markets, resulting in them being marginalized from well-paid jobs.
The existence of gender discrimination also implies that women tend to have reduced access to productive assets such as land, often find it difficult to obtain credit facilities (when compared to men), and in some instances face insecure property rights and other socio-cultural barriers when starting their businesses."
In spite of everything, the ex Finance Minister, "let me propose three areas which I think must be explored to grow businesses.
They are Venture capital and other equity funds; Risks and guarantee schemes; Grameen-type bank facilities for women entrepreneurs."

"I believe venture capital funds can play an important role in addressing this gap. In fact, the goal of this current course is to enlighten you more on various ways in which venture capital funds can support the activities of women SMEs.
There are a number of interesting international examples of how this has been achieved.

"In the UK for example, the Natwest Bank formalized a 'Business Angels Service' which provides a link between informal investors and investors with enterprises which need capital. A database is established on each side - with information on preferences and requirements - and it helps in the match-making process. Similarly, the Enterprise 2000 Seed Capital Fund developed by the Bank of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland offer a mix of equity (about three-quarters) and loan (one quarter) to startups. The fund is partly owned by the State and private funds.

Our own attempt here to induce Banks to put aside 10 percent of their profits for equity investments in small and medium enterprises has not been such a success for a wide variety of reasons but that doesn't mean that we should abandon the idea or fail to revisit it in another form.

"Of course, there are other examples such as the Acumen Fund based in New York. The Fund commenced operations in 2001, and initially financed by the Rockefeller Foundation and other sponsors. Again they operate a very market-based approach to philanthropy: they operate as a venture capital fund which targets promising SME projects in some target sectors in developing countries.

The difference between them and regular venture capital funds is that their sponsors are prepared to accept less of a return on their investments, and to bear more risk. So, for example, where other funds look for 20 to 30 percent return on their risk capital, these special funds would accept 10 to 15 percent and sometimes even less - as long as they are able to finance socially relevant projects which make an impact," she stated.

NB: All Copyright Belongs to Vanguard Newspapers]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Re:Cancer Research Updates</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=24</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:05:38 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=24</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[     Living in the village is one of the best memories  and experiences in life for those of us that have travelled around the world. Of course we say this because we have lived on both sides of village  and  urban spaces, and for many years life in what we know today as industrialized nations gives us opportunity to make comparisons - even though materially, there is no way one could compare life abroad in United States for example with life in the village. 
     But, our experiences of appreciating village life is somehow built on a benchmark of these comparative analysis since there are many things the King does not have that the neighbor has in abundance and vice versa. But like is said, where ever one goes, home is always the best. Similarly, we know that you we cannot live in the countries we found ourselves if there is nothing good about these countries. 
      The truth is that United States and Britain for examples are so advanced that whatever knowledge gained from these developed countries should be shared.Of course as you already know, advancement does not mean that they have overcome every problem in the world. There are problems that they have which we may not be able to solve or wished they come to us. Just as we have problems they have overcome several years ago. So nowhere in the world is problem - free.
     And that brings us to the important topic that this attachment is addressing. Cancer is a killer disease that knows no boundaries. We must do everything within our powers - take or start taking precautionary measures to save ourselves from the calamity of this dangerous health problem that no cure has been found.
    Reading the article about what and what we should avoid to reduce our being victim or exposed to cancer is very important. The importance of the Cancer awareness - the information you are about to read is that these precautionary measures came from highly authentic source, John Hopkins Hospital and one of the most respected health institutions in the world.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[     Living in the village is one of the best memories  and experiences in life for those of us that have travelled around the world. Of course we say this because we have lived on both sides of village  and  urban spaces, and for many years life in what we know today as industrialized nations gives us opportunity to make comparisons - even though materially, there is no way one could compare life abroad in United States for example with life in the village. 
     But, our experiences of appreciating village life is somehow built on a benchmark of these comparative analysis since there are many things the King does not have that the neighbor has in abundance and vice versa. But like is said, where ever one goes, home is always the best. Similarly, we know that you we cannot live in the countries we found ourselves if there is nothing good about these countries. 
      The truth is that United States and Britain for examples are so advanced that whatever knowledge gained from these developed countries should be shared.Of course as you already know, advancement does not mean that they have overcome every problem in the world. There are problems that they have which we may not be able to solve or wished they come to us. Just as we have problems they have overcome several years ago. So nowhere in the world is problem - free.
     And that brings us to the important topic that this attachment is addressing. Cancer is a killer disease that knows no boundaries. We must do everything within our powers - take or start taking precautionary measures to save ourselves from the calamity of this dangerous health problem that no cure has been found.
    Reading the article about what and what we should avoid to reduce our being victim or exposed to cancer is very important. The importance of the Cancer awareness - the information you are about to read is that these precautionary measures came from highly authentic source, John Hopkins Hospital and one of the most respected health institutions in the world.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Nigeria: Why Banks Shy Away From Agric Funding</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=22</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:27:50 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=22</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Nigeria: Why Banks Shy Away From Agric Funding

All copyright belongs to Daily Trust (Abuja)

COLUMN
April 15, 2007
Posted to the web April 16, 2007


Poor funding has been identified as the bane of agricultural development in Nigeria over the years. Analysts have said that there is some level of desire to build the agricultural sector but nobody wants to really fund it. Government is known to be a bad "businessman" and this has necessitated the involvement of the private sector in the development of agriculture.

Private investors have found it very difficult to put their money into agriculture probably because they see it as non-lucrative, time consuming and less prestigious when compared to oil and gas, real estate and other sectors of the economy. Most Nigerian wealthy investors believe that their money should work super-normal profits for them without themselves (investors) doing anything. This belief has spread into the financial institutions as well.

 
The apathy of banks and other financial institutions towards agricultural funding in this country has been a major source of worry to the farmers and other investors in the agricultural sector. Farmers who were lucky to get loans from the commercial banks in the past and even in recent times are still trembling under the heavy weight of high interest rates sometimes up to 30%.

Majority of Nigerian farmers are micro or small scale, rural and poor. They need funds to acquire land and inputs. Without assistance from the bank the farmers will continue at this level till God knows when, and our food security situation and economic diversification issues will be at stand still. From available records, loan advanced to the agricultural sector increased from N21 billion in 1994 to N46 billion in year 2000.

Relatively, loan to the agricultural sector in comparison to total disbursed loan of banking industry within the same period reveals a decline from 21.1% to 8.3%.

Even with the recently introduced N50 billion loanable fund for agricultural financing, not much difference is being made. This may be largely due to the fact that the fund was not available. The commercial banks that would do everything possible to avoid lending to the farmers were asked to set aside some billions as agricultural loan at single digit interest rate but they are in practice not willing. Their cover up argument is that they prefer lending to the large-scale farmers needing hundred millions of naira.

How many large-scale farmers do we have in this country? The commercial banks know that there are very few of them who sometimes do not even need the banks money. The bottom line is that the banks are tactically running away from lending to farmers.

It is agreed that financial institutions do not operate in a vacuum; they merely react to proposals on the table by taking all the circumstances into consideration. While complying with government directives and trying to be good co-operate citizens, banks are obliged to take into consideration the interest of customers and shareholders by not unduly committing their operational funds into investments with long history of systematic failure. This therefore challenges the stakeholders in the agricultural sector to endeavour to establish efficient and competitive agricultural enterprises.

Meanwhile, the reluctance of financial institutions over the years towards agricultural funding could be attributed to the following reasons:


Agricultural production is on the upper end of the risk spectrum when compared with other activities. Its level of output is based on factors that are beyond human control in Nigeria as a result of neglect by government and apathy by agriculturists compared to Israel or America where modern technology has been used to curtail the effect of weather variance on level of production.

High cost of servicing numerous small and scattered agricultural 
holdings all over the country.
 
Lack of high cadre of trained and experienced managers who can 
actualize the potentials in agriculture and turn the economies of 
scale of  large farming into attractive venture.
 
Large and small-scale agriculture in Nigeria is bedeviled with an acute unreliability of supply of essential inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals, improved seeds and breeds, implements and machinery.
 Dearth of accurate and reliable accounting data on the operations of the few large farms and numerous small scale farms.
 
Farming organizations have been unable to illustrate in clear terms ability to repay loans due to none engagement of the right caliber of professionals to keep essential financial records.
 

Most loans granted to the farmers in the past have been diverted to other uses different from the purpose for which the loans were granted. In cases like this, farmers have found it difficult to pay back and financial institutions have to lose huge funds belonging to depositors.
 
Failure to provide collateral security that is commensurate with the risk inherent in agricultural loans. This is due to the fact that most operators in the agricultural sector are small-scale farmers who do not posses valuable properties.

Now we know some of the impediments to free flow of loanable funds to the agricultural sector. It is left for all the statehokers; farmers, agriculturists, bankers and the 3-tiers of government to play their roles actively and work very hard so as to make agricultural funding attractive to the banks and at the same time friendly to the farmers.

Banks would have to co-operate with the efforts of government in this direction especially now that agricultural insurance covers loans so that farmers and others who want to borrow to fund agricultural projects have access to the loans and are not enslaved in the area of interest payment.

The government should endeavour to increase the loan portfolio of the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank Ltd (NACRDB) which gives loans to small scale farmers at 8% interest rate so that many farmers can benefit. This seems to be the best window for funding Nigerian agriculture at moment due to our numerous micro and small-scale farmers that need credit facilities.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nigeria: Why Banks Shy Away From Agric Funding

All copyright belongs to Daily Trust (Abuja)

COLUMN
April 15, 2007
Posted to the web April 16, 2007


Poor funding has been identified as the bane of agricultural development in Nigeria over the years. Analysts have said that there is some level of desire to build the agricultural sector but nobody wants to really fund it. Government is known to be a bad "businessman" and this has necessitated the involvement of the private sector in the development of agriculture.

Private investors have found it very difficult to put their money into agriculture probably because they see it as non-lucrative, time consuming and less prestigious when compared to oil and gas, real estate and other sectors of the economy. Most Nigerian wealthy investors believe that their money should work super-normal profits for them without themselves (investors) doing anything. This belief has spread into the financial institutions as well.

 
The apathy of banks and other financial institutions towards agricultural funding in this country has been a major source of worry to the farmers and other investors in the agricultural sector. Farmers who were lucky to get loans from the commercial banks in the past and even in recent times are still trembling under the heavy weight of high interest rates sometimes up to 30%.

Majority of Nigerian farmers are micro or small scale, rural and poor. They need funds to acquire land and inputs. Without assistance from the bank the farmers will continue at this level till God knows when, and our food security situation and economic diversification issues will be at stand still. From available records, loan advanced to the agricultural sector increased from N21 billion in 1994 to N46 billion in year 2000.

Relatively, loan to the agricultural sector in comparison to total disbursed loan of banking industry within the same period reveals a decline from 21.1% to 8.3%.

Even with the recently introduced N50 billion loanable fund for agricultural financing, not much difference is being made. This may be largely due to the fact that the fund was not available. The commercial banks that would do everything possible to avoid lending to the farmers were asked to set aside some billions as agricultural loan at single digit interest rate but they are in practice not willing. Their cover up argument is that they prefer lending to the large-scale farmers needing hundred millions of naira.

How many large-scale farmers do we have in this country? The commercial banks know that there are very few of them who sometimes do not even need the banks money. The bottom line is that the banks are tactically running away from lending to farmers.

It is agreed that financial institutions do not operate in a vacuum; they merely react to proposals on the table by taking all the circumstances into consideration. While complying with government directives and trying to be good co-operate citizens, banks are obliged to take into consideration the interest of customers and shareholders by not unduly committing their operational funds into investments with long history of systematic failure. This therefore challenges the stakeholders in the agricultural sector to endeavour to establish efficient and competitive agricultural enterprises.

Meanwhile, the reluctance of financial institutions over the years towards agricultural funding could be attributed to the following reasons:


Agricultural production is on the upper end of the risk spectrum when compared with other activities. Its level of output is based on factors that are beyond human control in Nigeria as a result of neglect by government and apathy by agriculturists compared to Israel or America where modern technology has been used to curtail the effect of weather variance on level of production.

High cost of servicing numerous small and scattered agricultural 
holdings all over the country.
 
Lack of high cadre of trained and experienced managers who can 
actualize the potentials in agriculture and turn the economies of 
scale of  large farming into attractive venture.
 
Large and small-scale agriculture in Nigeria is bedeviled with an acute unreliability of supply of essential inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals, improved seeds and breeds, implements and machinery.
 Dearth of accurate and reliable accounting data on the operations of the few large farms and numerous small scale farms.
 
Farming organizations have been unable to illustrate in clear terms ability to repay loans due to none engagement of the right caliber of professionals to keep essential financial records.
 

Most loans granted to the farmers in the past have been diverted to other uses different from the purpose for which the loans were granted. In cases like this, farmers have found it difficult to pay back and financial institutions have to lose huge funds belonging to depositors.
 
Failure to provide collateral security that is commensurate with the risk inherent in agricultural loans. This is due to the fact that most operators in the agricultural sector are small-scale farmers who do not posses valuable properties.

Now we know some of the impediments to free flow of loanable funds to the agricultural sector. It is left for all the statehokers; farmers, agriculturists, bankers and the 3-tiers of government to play their roles actively and work very hard so as to make agricultural funding attractive to the banks and at the same time friendly to the farmers.

Banks would have to co-operate with the efforts of government in this direction especially now that agricultural insurance covers loans so that farmers and others who want to borrow to fund agricultural projects have access to the loans and are not enslaved in the area of interest payment.

The government should endeavour to increase the loan portfolio of the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank Ltd (NACRDB) which gives loans to small scale farmers at 8% interest rate so that many farmers can benefit. This seems to be the best window for funding Nigerian agriculture at moment due to our numerous micro and small-scale farmers that need credit facilities.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>AN APPRAISAL OF PHYTOMEDICINE IN AFRICA.</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=21</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:11:42 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=21</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[AN APPRAISAL OF PHYTOMEDICINE IN AFRICA.

By 

R. N. Okigbo and E. C. Mmeka
Department of Botany,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,
Anambra State, Nigeria.  
Email: okigborn17@yahoo.com


ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have played a key role in the world health care with about 80% of Africans depending on phytomedicine, which has shown a wide range of uses in the treatment of diseases especially priority diseases of Africa such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, sickle-cell anemia, diabetes and hypertension. These medicinal plants have more beneficial effect than their synthetic counterparts through being safer, acceptable, affordable, culturally compatible and suitable for chronic treatments. Some African phytomedicines are well known in the international market and so supply economic benefit for the producing countries. The use of phytomedicine should be integrated into the health agenda since effective health care cannot be achieved in Africa by using orthodox medicine alone. This can be achieved by adopting the WHO memorandum and guidelines for the institutionalization of phytomedicine into the health sector. Although there are some problems limiting the development of phytomedicine, such as lack of standardization, efficacy and quality control of plants used, extinction of some plant species, lack of funds and others, if these problems can be fully addressed, this will help in the future development and harmonization of phytomedicines.
KEYWORDS: Traditional Medical practitioners (TMPs), Orthodox medicine, Health care system.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[AN APPRAISAL OF PHYTOMEDICINE IN AFRICA.

By 

R. N. Okigbo and E. C. Mmeka
Department of Botany,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,
Anambra State, Nigeria.  
Email: okigborn17@yahoo.com


ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have played a key role in the world health care with about 80% of Africans depending on phytomedicine, which has shown a wide range of uses in the treatment of diseases especially priority diseases of Africa such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, sickle-cell anemia, diabetes and hypertension. These medicinal plants have more beneficial effect than their synthetic counterparts through being safer, acceptable, affordable, culturally compatible and suitable for chronic treatments. Some African phytomedicines are well known in the international market and so supply economic benefit for the producing countries. The use of phytomedicine should be integrated into the health agenda since effective health care cannot be achieved in Africa by using orthodox medicine alone. This can be achieved by adopting the WHO memorandum and guidelines for the institutionalization of phytomedicine into the health sector. Although there are some problems limiting the development of phytomedicine, such as lack of standardization, efficacy and quality control of plants used, extinction of some plant species, lack of funds and others, if these problems can be fully addressed, this will help in the future development and harmonization of phytomedicines.
KEYWORDS: Traditional Medical practitioners (TMPs), Orthodox medicine, Health care system.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Nigeria's Human Resources Abroad</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=20</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:36:23 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=20</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[The clarion call for Nigerians and Africans in diaspora to contribute thier knowledge towards Nigeria and Africa's development has not been important than now. Several countries once identified as "Third World" countries have advanced economically and technologically to almost the same level of development as what were once known as developed countries. 

Of course what distinguishes developed nations from developing nation is not in any way a matter of resources, it is how these resources are packaged, utilized and continuously motivated towards production. For countries such as Nigeria as the article attached indicates, the problem is not with the human resources. Be  it in the field of education, agriculture, science and technology, Nigerians will always compete on individual levels or even exhale over most citizens of other nations.  But on national (between our country and others) levels we are on a scale of 10, we can be scored 4. 
 
But for our deplorable economic and technological status as of today, the problem could be attributed to years or decades of poor leadership. Nigeria honestly will fast track to  an advanced- technologically nation (without being too optimistic), in less than five years into an industrial/technologically-advanced nation, only if she is able to assemble her abundant human resources, galvanize them ( my words) , motivate  them and put these resources into projects (for example, mechanized agriculture or poultry farming) that will benefit the people and the country. It may entail "fishing" for our experts overseas. Make sure that when they answer the clarion call that the round pegs are put into round holes and the squared ones into square holes. When the leadership does this, what the eyes of the world would eventually see  in terms of development will amaze all.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The clarion call for Nigerians and Africans in diaspora to contribute thier knowledge towards Nigeria and Africa's development has not been important than now. Several countries once identified as "Third World" countries have advanced economically and technologically to almost the same level of development as what were once known as developed countries. 

Of course what distinguishes developed nations from developing nation is not in any way a matter of resources, it is how these resources are packaged, utilized and continuously motivated towards production. For countries such as Nigeria as the article attached indicates, the problem is not with the human resources. Be  it in the field of education, agriculture, science and technology, Nigerians will always compete on individual levels or even exhale over most citizens of other nations.  But on national (between our country and others) levels we are on a scale of 10, we can be scored 4. 
 
But for our deplorable economic and technological status as of today, the problem could be attributed to years or decades of poor leadership. Nigeria honestly will fast track to  an advanced- technologically nation (without being too optimistic), in less than five years into an industrial/technologically-advanced nation, only if she is able to assemble her abundant human resources, galvanize them ( my words) , motivate  them and put these resources into projects (for example, mechanized agriculture or poultry farming) that will benefit the people and the country. It may entail "fishing" for our experts overseas. Make sure that when they answer the clarion call that the round pegs are put into round holes and the squared ones into square holes. When the leadership does this, what the eyes of the world would eventually see  in terms of development will amaze all.]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Poor Nations to Bear Brunt as World Warms</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=19</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:27:03 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=19</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[[attachment=5]Several questions asked by farmers at the opening ceremony of Si_May Knowledge Center touched on this issue and problems of global warming. Of course we can avert it huge impact it is having on our rural farmers, if we have information of what is coming and start early to work towards reducing the effects of the problem. 

One questioner asked that she wants to know why  the seedlinhgs she planst continue to roast and waste? WHat can be done to reduce the problem ( or avertthe problem)?

As this article suggests, (courtesy of New York Times), countries in developing world such as in Africa will bear more the brunt of global warming. If I may recall, this problem should receive national attention in Nigeria ( if at all it has not been). 

The same story was carried this weekend by CNN that identifies draught and famine as consequences of global warming. The question therefore is how ready as we for this huge catastrophy? Are our governments at local, state and federal levels prepared to deal with this problem. Are they relaxing waiting for the huge catastrophe before the usual "fire-service response" that we are used to in Nigeria when things must have gotten out of hand? 

While the solution to this problem should be gradual, time is running out. But citizens alone cannot find the solution. Solutions will rest with government and non-governmental agencies for now and in the future, this article gives a picture of the looming danger if nothing is done to reduce the problem to rural farmers of global warming.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[[attachment=5]Several questions asked by farmers at the opening ceremony of Si_May Knowledge Center touched on this issue and problems of global warming. Of course we can avert it huge impact it is having on our rural farmers, if we have information of what is coming and start early to work towards reducing the effects of the problem. 

One questioner asked that she wants to know why  the seedlinhgs she planst continue to roast and waste? WHat can be done to reduce the problem ( or avertthe problem)?

As this article suggests, (courtesy of New York Times), countries in developing world such as in Africa will bear more the brunt of global warming. If I may recall, this problem should receive national attention in Nigeria ( if at all it has not been). 

The same story was carried this weekend by CNN that identifies draught and famine as consequences of global warming. The question therefore is how ready as we for this huge catastrophy? Are our governments at local, state and federal levels prepared to deal with this problem. Are they relaxing waiting for the huge catastrophe before the usual "fire-service response" that we are used to in Nigeria when things must have gotten out of hand? 

While the solution to this problem should be gradual, time is running out. But citizens alone cannot find the solution. Solutions will rest with government and non-governmental agencies for now and in the future, this article gives a picture of the looming danger if nothing is done to reduce the problem to rural farmers of global warming.]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title>WTO &amp; Agriculture in Developing Countries</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=18</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:31:37 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=18</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[This Day (Lagos) 
OPINION
March 20, 2007 
Posted to the web March 21, 2007 

By Ken Ukaoha
Lagos 

Agriculture plays a central role in the well-being of developing countries' economies and their people. In the developing world an average of 50 per cent of people make their living from farming and agriculture, and in some countries, this figure rises to over 80 per cent. 

There is a strong relationship between poverty and agriculture. Three quarters of the 1.2 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day, work and live in rural areas. Repeated studies have shown that agriculture is key in the fight against poverty and must therefore play a central role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. 

Agriculture is key to future poverty reduction. Growth in the agricultural sector has a singularly more powerful impact on poverty reduction than any other economic sector. A one per cent growth in agricultural productivity reduces the number of people living on less than a &#36;1 a day by up to 1.2 per cent. 

However, according to a study by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, agriculture liberalisation will not benefit the majority of developing countries. This is due to several reasons. 

For instance, many developing countries are net food importers; some developing countries may lose relative advantages they now enjoy under special preference programs; and many developing countries have wide-spread small-scale farming that is often un-competitive and suffers from low productivity. 

As, in these cases, unskilled rural labour cannot be easily and quickly absorbed by other sectors, there will be a higher cost of adjustment (derived from liberalisation) in particular in the case of less diversified economies. 

Because of these reasons, liberalisation of these countries' agricultural sectors can lead to significant net losses, with the burden falling heaviest on the poorest sections of their populations. 

But why is adequate tariff protection (in the agricultural sector) justified for developing countries? The reasons are as follows: 

First, to partially, insulate domestic production and farmers from low prices: Price instability is a common feature of agriculture markets and a political and social concern for all WTO members. Whereas all WTO members share this feature and its effect on farmers, the means and capacity to deal with these issues are grossly inadequate in developing countries. 

A vast majority of these countries do not have access to market-based, sophisticated mechanisms to deal with risks associated with agriculture production, particular the volatility of prices. Neither do they have the financial means to provide direct assistance to farmers (i.e. in some cases 80 per cent of their population) to guarantee subsistence income. 

Whereas developed countries use domestic support programmes and border measures to protect domestic production and farmers (around 2 per cent of total population in OECD countries), developing countries rely substantially more on border measures. Any revised agriculture agreement should take this difference into account rather than further restricting developing country options. 

Other border measures (excluding tariffs) were not available for developing countries in the context of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). Tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSG) were denied to most of them by linking access to those instruments to the tariff process. 

Although developing countries bound their tariffs at generally high levels during the Uruguay Round, actual trade takes place at low tariffs in many developing countries. 

Secondly, to achieve food security: According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), a situation where per capita food availability is decreasing because of falling domestic production, may be unsustainable in the longer term without a con-comitant rise in export earnings. 

Because of the implementation of the AoA, developing country imports have increased faster than their exports. Moreover, developing country exports continue to be concentrated in products of low value added and subject to large price volatility, which undermines their capacity to generate export earnings. 

Therefore, it is important for developing countries to increase domestic production and productivity in their agricultural sector, to be able to feed their populations and generate more stable export earnings to complement their food availability needs through imports. To meet these legitimate objectives they would require, more often than not, tariff protection. 

Overall gains to the world are divided fairly evenly between the developed and developing world. China is home to large numbers of poor people, with more than 200 million living on less than &#36;1 per day and an additional 600 million living on less than &#36;2 per day. 

Most of the world's poor people are concentrated in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their incomes. This is true in China, Bangladesh, and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in other countries that have large numbers of poor people, most notably India. All countries lose from agricultural liberalisation. Whether a pact would help or hurt their poor citizens on a net basis depends heavily on the details of the outcome. 

The experience of developing countries with trade liberalisation in agriculture has been disappointing at best. Trade liberalisation, particularly in agriculture, has been associated with increased income inequality, deteriorating rural poverty, increased import food dependence, marginalisation of small farmers, and deterioration of the food security situation, especially among the poor. 

Imports can contribute to food security but as a complement to domestic production, at an adequate combination to be decided by each particular country based on its own circumstances. Cheap imports can be good for consumers. Still, for the local rural poor who depend on agriculture production for their basic income, cheap imports threaten their livelihood security because they compete in the local market with their own production. 

If, as is the case in most developing countries, the large majority of the population depend on agriculture and live in the rural areas under severe poverty, protecting and expanding the livelihood strategies of the rural poor based in agriculture production and trading constitutes the only viable means to improve the living standards of the population and guarantee food security. 

Further, small open economies, lacking economies of scale and vulnerable to natural disasters and shocks, cannot entirely rely on imports to meet the food needs of its population. These countries have insisted on the need to maintain a minimum level of domestic food production. This is a matter of national security and responsible governance.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[This Day (Lagos) 
OPINION
March 20, 2007 
Posted to the web March 21, 2007 

By Ken Ukaoha
Lagos 

Agriculture plays a central role in the well-being of developing countries' economies and their people. In the developing world an average of 50 per cent of people make their living from farming and agriculture, and in some countries, this figure rises to over 80 per cent. 

There is a strong relationship between poverty and agriculture. Three quarters of the 1.2 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day, work and live in rural areas. Repeated studies have shown that agriculture is key in the fight against poverty and must therefore play a central role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. 

Agriculture is key to future poverty reduction. Growth in the agricultural sector has a singularly more powerful impact on poverty reduction than any other economic sector. A one per cent growth in agricultural productivity reduces the number of people living on less than a &#36;1 a day by up to 1.2 per cent. 

However, according to a study by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, agriculture liberalisation will not benefit the majority of developing countries. This is due to several reasons. 

For instance, many developing countries are net food importers; some developing countries may lose relative advantages they now enjoy under special preference programs; and many developing countries have wide-spread small-scale farming that is often un-competitive and suffers from low productivity. 

As, in these cases, unskilled rural labour cannot be easily and quickly absorbed by other sectors, there will be a higher cost of adjustment (derived from liberalisation) in particular in the case of less diversified economies. 

Because of these reasons, liberalisation of these countries' agricultural sectors can lead to significant net losses, with the burden falling heaviest on the poorest sections of their populations. 

But why is adequate tariff protection (in the agricultural sector) justified for developing countries? The reasons are as follows: 

First, to partially, insulate domestic production and farmers from low prices: Price instability is a common feature of agriculture markets and a political and social concern for all WTO members. Whereas all WTO members share this feature and its effect on farmers, the means and capacity to deal with these issues are grossly inadequate in developing countries. 

A vast majority of these countries do not have access to market-based, sophisticated mechanisms to deal with risks associated with agriculture production, particular the volatility of prices. Neither do they have the financial means to provide direct assistance to farmers (i.e. in some cases 80 per cent of their population) to guarantee subsistence income. 

Whereas developed countries use domestic support programmes and border measures to protect domestic production and farmers (around 2 per cent of total population in OECD countries), developing countries rely substantially more on border measures. Any revised agriculture agreement should take this difference into account rather than further restricting developing country options. 

Other border measures (excluding tariffs) were not available for developing countries in the context of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). Tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSG) were denied to most of them by linking access to those instruments to the tariff process. 

Although developing countries bound their tariffs at generally high levels during the Uruguay Round, actual trade takes place at low tariffs in many developing countries. 

Secondly, to achieve food security: According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), a situation where per capita food availability is decreasing because of falling domestic production, may be unsustainable in the longer term without a con-comitant rise in export earnings. 

Because of the implementation of the AoA, developing country imports have increased faster than their exports. Moreover, developing country exports continue to be concentrated in products of low value added and subject to large price volatility, which undermines their capacity to generate export earnings. 

Therefore, it is important for developing countries to increase domestic production and productivity in their agricultural sector, to be able to feed their populations and generate more stable export earnings to complement their food availability needs through imports. To meet these legitimate objectives they would require, more often than not, tariff protection. 

Overall gains to the world are divided fairly evenly between the developed and developing world. China is home to large numbers of poor people, with more than 200 million living on less than &#36;1 per day and an additional 600 million living on less than &#36;2 per day. 

Most of the world's poor people are concentrated in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their incomes. This is true in China, Bangladesh, and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in other countries that have large numbers of poor people, most notably India. All countries lose from agricultural liberalisation. Whether a pact would help or hurt their poor citizens on a net basis depends heavily on the details of the outcome. 

The experience of developing countries with trade liberalisation in agriculture has been disappointing at best. Trade liberalisation, particularly in agriculture, has been associated with increased income inequality, deteriorating rural poverty, increased import food dependence, marginalisation of small farmers, and deterioration of the food security situation, especially among the poor. 

Imports can contribute to food security but as a complement to domestic production, at an adequate combination to be decided by each particular country based on its own circumstances. Cheap imports can be good for consumers. Still, for the local rural poor who depend on agriculture production for their basic income, cheap imports threaten their livelihood security because they compete in the local market with their own production. 

If, as is the case in most developing countries, the large majority of the population depend on agriculture and live in the rural areas under severe poverty, protecting and expanding the livelihood strategies of the rural poor based in agriculture production and trading constitutes the only viable means to improve the living standards of the population and guarantee food security. 

Further, small open economies, lacking economies of scale and vulnerable to natural disasters and shocks, cannot entirely rely on imports to meet the food needs of its population. These countries have insisted on the need to maintain a minimum level of domestic food production. This is a matter of national security and responsible governance.]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title>Nigeria: Cassava Glut Hits FCT</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=17</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:27:56 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=17</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Daily Trust (Abuja)
March 23, 2007
Posted to the web March 23, 2007

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Amina Zakari, yesterday said that the Federal Capital Territory is experiencing a glut in cassava production. She attributed the development to inadequate market information and lack of processing centres to add value to the products.

Zakari told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that production in the area was beyond the capacity of the available processing centres.
"Because there was inadequate market information system most farmers that produced cassava don't know where to locate processors, while processors don't know where to buy cassava.
"The presidential initiative on cassava received an overwhelming acceptance by the farmers across the country," he said.
" The committee should have envisaged the need to add value to the produce and make projection for commercial processing centres," she added.

The secretary said that the challenges being faced by the cassava farmers in maximizing the benefit of the initiative was in the area of processing and marketing that now required urgent attention.
She said that through the MDG funds FCT would set up commercial processing plants with the mini ones on ground to mop up the glut within a short time.

She said they were working in conjunction with different farmers' associations to establish farm dryers as that would reduce fatigue and transportation cost. "Concrete efforts are being made to tap all the potentials in the sector. We have connected some farmers with financial institutions and FADAMA 11 project so that they could access micro-credit," she said.

Zakari said that strategies had been designed to ensure that the great potentials of the agricultural sector were explored.
She said that enabling environment had been created through provision of rural infrastructure, farm inputs and market outlets among others.

The Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, Mrs. Olutoyin Adetunji, said that government was aware of the missing link in market information.

She said that efforts were now geared toward sensitization of farmers on the need to put additional value to their produce by processing them into chips so that it would attract high market value.
Adetunji said that government was now linking processors with Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NAR-CDB) and other commercial banks to access credit facilities.
The national president of the Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, Chief Moses Ayinmodu, said that the glut was in most cases localized.

Copyright © 2007 Daily Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Daily Trust (Abuja)
March 23, 2007
Posted to the web March 23, 2007

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Amina Zakari, yesterday said that the Federal Capital Territory is experiencing a glut in cassava production. She attributed the development to inadequate market information and lack of processing centres to add value to the products.

Zakari told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that production in the area was beyond the capacity of the available processing centres.
"Because there was inadequate market information system most farmers that produced cassava don't know where to locate processors, while processors don't know where to buy cassava.
"The presidential initiative on cassava received an overwhelming acceptance by the farmers across the country," he said.
" The committee should have envisaged the need to add value to the produce and make projection for commercial processing centres," she added.

The secretary said that the challenges being faced by the cassava farmers in maximizing the benefit of the initiative was in the area of processing and marketing that now required urgent attention.
She said that through the MDG funds FCT would set up commercial processing plants with the mini ones on ground to mop up the glut within a short time.

She said they were working in conjunction with different farmers' associations to establish farm dryers as that would reduce fatigue and transportation cost. "Concrete efforts are being made to tap all the potentials in the sector. We have connected some farmers with financial institutions and FADAMA 11 project so that they could access micro-credit," she said.

Zakari said that strategies had been designed to ensure that the great potentials of the agricultural sector were explored.
She said that enabling environment had been created through provision of rural infrastructure, farm inputs and market outlets among others.

The Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, Mrs. Olutoyin Adetunji, said that government was aware of the missing link in market information.

She said that efforts were now geared toward sensitization of farmers on the need to put additional value to their produce by processing them into chips so that it would attract high market value.
Adetunji said that government was now linking processors with Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NAR-CDB) and other commercial banks to access credit facilities.
The national president of the Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, Chief Moses Ayinmodu, said that the glut was in most cases localized.

Copyright © 2007 Daily Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title>Nigeria: Taking Cassava Initiative to What Level?</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=16</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:25:03 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=16</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Vanguard (Lagos)
March 25, 2007
Posted to the web March 26, 2007
John Nwokocha
Lagos

The federal government's directive of making cassava ten per cent content of flour consumed locally may have suffered some frustration, partly why the government came down to five percent cassava content in baked products and confectionery. It is believed that Nigeria's total consumption of cassava per month is 2000 tons, which is high and necessitated the plan to diversify the economic base of the country via cassava export. But immediate challenges put the initiative in jeopardy.

The federal government has the intention to diversify the economic base of the nation through agriculture, in view of which it introduced the presidential cassava initiative in 2002. The government's estimate was that cassava would fetch about N15 billion per annum if optimally explored. The cassava export market alone was estimated to fetch over &#36;5 billion (N635 billion) per annum. As a matter of fact, cassava is the staple food of most Nigerians.
 
But cassava can be put to many uses. Following this discovery therefore, there has been a serious pressure on increased production of cassava, of course, due to increased demand. Take for instance, cassava is processed into flour starch and is of great importance to industries. It is used by confectionery industry. It is equally used by textile and pharmaceutical industries. The government sometime in 2005 caused a mandatory ten percent of cassava flour content policy, for local consumption, through confectionery and baked products. But the irony is that the flour millers who were expected to implement the policy were said to have been undermining the project. 

They refused to comply with the government directive, an act which threatens the initiative. This, coupled with the reduction of tariff on imported corn flour, by the government, from 20 per cent to five per cent is creating a huge challenge for cassava flour processors.
The decision by government to reduce the tariff is definitely unpopular and counter-mands the initial intention to boost the economy through revenue generated from the agricultural sector. It is doubtful if anybody will contest the fact that the corn flour is an alternative to cassava flour indeed, the pharmaceutical sector prefers corn flour to cassava flour in the manufacturing of drugs. And it is understandable that the tariff reduction is to encourage the pharmaceuticals. But the consequence is negative impact on the nation's economy.

Is it not ironic that the official commercial interest in cassava in Nigeria is reportedly only two years? It is baffling that despite official declaration to boost cassava production and positive steps for greater economic gains, cassava cultivation across the country is still by hoes and machete, which constitute part of fundamental problems cassava farmers or growers are faced with. And these are potential problems that are capable of frustrating all efforts and commitments at government levels and individual level. The implication of this is that Nigeria will lose its leadership position as the largest cassava producing country in the world. In point of fact, Nigeria grows more cassava than any other country in the world. Its current production capacity is put at about 34 million metric tons per annum.

And the total area harvested of cassava in 2003 was 3.1 million hectares with an average yield of about eleven tons per hectre. The idea behind the presidential initiative on cassava is to put Nigeria's economy in the context of global competition.

And to realise this dream is the need to upgrade the use of cassava into primary industries like ethanol, chips, flour and starch, aimed at providing an industrial base for further diversification of the national economy. On a per capita basis North central is the highest producing zone, at 72 tons per person in 2002. It is closely followed by South-East zone with 56, South-South 47, South-West 34, North- West 10 and North-East 01. Benue, Kogi and Niger states are the largest growers of cassava.

However, association of cassava farmers in Niger state decried lack of government's support. They told our reporter that they were in distress. They reasoned that adequate funding and provision of modern equipment were central to improved production of the crop. In other words, the position of the zone as the largest grower of the crop in Nigeria, stands threatened unless the government changes it attitude. The association claims that not much is being invested as expected. Another drawback is that majority of cassava grown on farmland across Nigeria is processed and sold through traditional market channels which contribute little to the national economy. 

A school of thought notes that cassava can be used to improve rural and urban income and development in Nigeria if investments in the downstream sector of the industry are made more effective.
However, research institutes like FAO and IFPRI suggests a more conservative production target for the crop, Nigeria's production of cassava is targeted at 40 million tons in 2005 and 60 million tons by 2020. But before the cassava initiative there had been various organizations that had contributed to the development and improvement of the crop. For instance, research institutions such as the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia State, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan in Oyo State and the Root and Tuber Expansion programme.

On their own, members of the cassava growers association are currently practicing cluster farming. It was reliably gathered that they are about 500 groups committed to cluster farming, and each group has about 30 hecters under cultivation. The group do hire a tractor to plough, spray with herbicide to reduce weeding. But their collective efforts often suffer a setback due to the use of inappropriate tractors.

The result is poor yields. Thus, the non-availability of heavy farming equipment, within the reach of the association of cassava growers is a major constraint towards achieving increased cassava production for exports. Perhaps, it should be emphasized that the goals of the presidential initiative on cassava is to expand primary processing and utilization in order to absorb the national cassava production glut, identify and develop new market opportunities for import substitution and stimulate exports. The programs on the initiative are being implemented through sub-committee.

The minister of commerce heads the committee on export. The commerce ministry recently facilitated a trial export of 1000 tons of cassava chips to China. But it is a big challenge to meet the volume of demand from China and other countries. This challenge simply means sustaining the growth of cassava crop in areas where it has comparative advantage. And by implication, this will push the initiative to the next level.

 Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Vanguard (Lagos)
March 25, 2007
Posted to the web March 26, 2007
John Nwokocha
Lagos

The federal government's directive of making cassava ten per cent content of flour consumed locally may have suffered some frustration, partly why the government came down to five percent cassava content in baked products and confectionery. It is believed that Nigeria's total consumption of cassava per month is 2000 tons, which is high and necessitated the plan to diversify the economic base of the country via cassava export. But immediate challenges put the initiative in jeopardy.

The federal government has the intention to diversify the economic base of the nation through agriculture, in view of which it introduced the presidential cassava initiative in 2002. The government's estimate was that cassava would fetch about N15 billion per annum if optimally explored. The cassava export market alone was estimated to fetch over &#36;5 billion (N635 billion) per annum. As a matter of fact, cassava is the staple food of most Nigerians.
 
But cassava can be put to many uses. Following this discovery therefore, there has been a serious pressure on increased production of cassava, of course, due to increased demand. Take for instance, cassava is processed into flour starch and is of great importance to industries. It is used by confectionery industry. It is equally used by textile and pharmaceutical industries. The government sometime in 2005 caused a mandatory ten percent of cassava flour content policy, for local consumption, through confectionery and baked products. But the irony is that the flour millers who were expected to implement the policy were said to have been undermining the project. 

They refused to comply with the government directive, an act which threatens the initiative. This, coupled with the reduction of tariff on imported corn flour, by the government, from 20 per cent to five per cent is creating a huge challenge for cassava flour processors.
The decision by government to reduce the tariff is definitely unpopular and counter-mands the initial intention to boost the economy through revenue generated from the agricultural sector. It is doubtful if anybody will contest the fact that the corn flour is an alternative to cassava flour indeed, the pharmaceutical sector prefers corn flour to cassava flour in the manufacturing of drugs. And it is understandable that the tariff reduction is to encourage the pharmaceuticals. But the consequence is negative impact on the nation's economy.

Is it not ironic that the official commercial interest in cassava in Nigeria is reportedly only two years? It is baffling that despite official declaration to boost cassava production and positive steps for greater economic gains, cassava cultivation across the country is still by hoes and machete, which constitute part of fundamental problems cassava farmers or growers are faced with. And these are potential problems that are capable of frustrating all efforts and commitments at government levels and individual level. The implication of this is that Nigeria will lose its leadership position as the largest cassava producing country in the world. In point of fact, Nigeria grows more cassava than any other country in the world. Its current production capacity is put at about 34 million metric tons per annum.

And the total area harvested of cassava in 2003 was 3.1 million hectares with an average yield of about eleven tons per hectre. The idea behind the presidential initiative on cassava is to put Nigeria's economy in the context of global competition.

And to realise this dream is the need to upgrade the use of cassava into primary industries like ethanol, chips, flour and starch, aimed at providing an industrial base for further diversification of the national economy. On a per capita basis North central is the highest producing zone, at 72 tons per person in 2002. It is closely followed by South-East zone with 56, South-South 47, South-West 34, North- West 10 and North-East 01. Benue, Kogi and Niger states are the largest growers of cassava.

However, association of cassava farmers in Niger state decried lack of government's support. They told our reporter that they were in distress. They reasoned that adequate funding and provision of modern equipment were central to improved production of the crop. In other words, the position of the zone as the largest grower of the crop in Nigeria, stands threatened unless the government changes it attitude. The association claims that not much is being invested as expected. Another drawback is that majority of cassava grown on farmland across Nigeria is processed and sold through traditional market channels which contribute little to the national economy. 

A school of thought notes that cassava can be used to improve rural and urban income and development in Nigeria if investments in the downstream sector of the industry are made more effective.
However, research institutes like FAO and IFPRI suggests a more conservative production target for the crop, Nigeria's production of cassava is targeted at 40 million tons in 2005 and 60 million tons by 2020. But before the cassava initiative there had been various organizations that had contributed to the development and improvement of the crop. For instance, research institutions such as the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia State, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan in Oyo State and the Root and Tuber Expansion programme.

On their own, members of the cassava growers association are currently practicing cluster farming. It was reliably gathered that they are about 500 groups committed to cluster farming, and each group has about 30 hecters under cultivation. The group do hire a tractor to plough, spray with herbicide to reduce weeding. But their collective efforts often suffer a setback due to the use of inappropriate tractors.

The result is poor yields. Thus, the non-availability of heavy farming equipment, within the reach of the association of cassava growers is a major constraint towards achieving increased cassava production for exports. Perhaps, it should be emphasized that the goals of the presidential initiative on cassava is to expand primary processing and utilization in order to absorb the national cassava production glut, identify and develop new market opportunities for import substitution and stimulate exports. The programs on the initiative are being implemented through sub-committee.

The minister of commerce heads the committee on export. The commerce ministry recently facilitated a trial export of 1000 tons of cassava chips to China. But it is a big challenge to meet the volume of demand from China and other countries. This challenge simply means sustaining the growth of cassava crop in areas where it has comparative advantage. And by implication, this will push the initiative to the next level.

 Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Nigeria: Taking Cassava Initiative to What Level?</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=15</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:24:34 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=15</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Vanguard (Lagos)
March 25, 2007
Posted to the web March 26, 2007
John Nwokocha
Lagos

The federal government's directive of making cassava ten per cent content of flour consumed locally may have suffered some frustration, partly why the government came down to five percent cassava content in baked products and confectionery. It is believed that Nigeria's total consumption of cassava per month is 2000 tons, which is high and necessitated the plan to diversify the economic base of the country via cassava export. But immediate challenges put the initiative in jeopardy.

The federal government has the intention to diversify the economic base of the nation through agriculture, in view of which it introduced the presidential cassava initiative in 2002. The government's estimate was that cassava would fetch about N15 billion per annum if optimally explored. The cassava export market alone was estimated to fetch over &#36;5 billion (N635 billion) per annum. As a matter of fact, cassava is the staple food of most Nigerians.
 
But cassava can be put to many uses. Following this discovery therefore, there has been a serious pressure on increased production of cassava, of course, due to increased demand. Take for instance, cassava is processed into flour starch and is of great importance to industries. It is used by confectionery industry. It is equally used by textile and pharmaceutical industries. The government sometime in 2005 caused a mandatory ten percent of cassava flour content policy, for local consumption, through confectionery and baked products. But the irony is that the flour millers who were expected to implement the policy were said to have been undermining the project. 

They refused to comply with the government directive, an act which threatens the initiative. This, coupled with the reduction of tariff on imported corn flour, by the government, from 20 per cent to five per cent is creating a huge challenge for cassava flour processors.
The decision by government to reduce the tariff is definitely unpopular and counter-mands the initial intention to boost the economy through revenue generated from the agricultural sector. It is doubtful if anybody will contest the fact that the corn flour is an alternative to cassava flour indeed, the pharmaceutical sector prefers corn flour to cassava flour in the manufacturing of drugs. And it is understandable that the tariff reduction is to encourage the pharmaceuticals. But the consequence is negative impact on the nation's economy.

Is it not ironic that the official commercial interest in cassava in Nigeria is reportedly only two years? It is baffling that despite official declaration to boost cassava production and positive steps for greater economic gains, cassava cultivation across the country is still by hoes and machete, which constitute part of fundamental problems cassava farmers or growers are faced with. And these are potential problems that are capable of frustrating all efforts and commitments at government levels and individual level. The implication of this is that Nigeria will lose its leadership position as the largest cassava producing country in the world. In point of fact, Nigeria grows more cassava than any other country in the world. Its current production capacity is put at about 34 million metric tons per annum.

And the total area harvested of cassava in 2003 was 3.1 million hectares with an average yield of about eleven tons per hectre. The idea behind the presidential initiative on cassava is to put Nigeria's economy in the context of global competition.

And to realise this dream is the need to upgrade the use of cassava into primary industries like ethanol, chips, flour and starch, aimed at providing an industrial base for further diversification of the national economy. On a per capita basis North central is the highest producing zone, at 72 tons per person in 2002. It is closely followed by South-East zone with 56, South-South 47, South-West 34, North- West 10 and North-East 01. Benue, Kogi and Niger states are the largest growers of cassava.

However, association of cassava farmers in Niger state decried lack of government's support. They told our reporter that they were in distress. They reasoned that adequate funding and provision of modern equipment were central to improved production of the crop. In other words, the position of the zone as the largest grower of the crop in Nigeria, stands threatened unless the government changes it attitude. The association claims that not much is being invested as expected. Another drawback is that majority of cassava grown on farmland across Nigeria is processed and sold through traditional market channels which contribute little to the national economy. 

A school of thought notes that cassava can be used to improve rural and urban income and development in Nigeria if investments in the downstream sector of the industry are made more effective.
However, research institutes like FAO and IFPRI suggests a more conservative production target for the crop, Nigeria's production of cassava is targeted at 40 million tons in 2005 and 60 million tons by 2020. But before the cassava initiative there had been various organizations that had contributed to the development and improvement of the crop. For instance, research institutions such as the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia State, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan in Oyo State and the Root and Tuber Expansion programme.

On their own, members of the cassava growers association are currently practicing cluster farming. It was reliably gathered that they are about 500 groups committed to cluster farming, and each group has about 30 hecters under cultivation. The group do hire a tractor to plough, spray with herbicide to reduce weeding. But their collective efforts often suffer a setback due to the use of inappropriate tractors.

The result is poor yields. Thus, the non-availability of heavy farming equipment, within the reach of the association of cassava growers is a major constraint towards achieving increased cassava production for exports. Perhaps, it should be emphasized that the goals of the presidential initiative on cassava is to expand primary processing and utilization in order to absorb the national cassava production glut, identify and develop new market opportunities for import substitution and stimulate exports. The programs on the initiative are being implemented through sub-committee.

The minister of commerce heads the committee on export. The commerce ministry recently facilitated a trial export of 1000 tons of cassava chips to China. But it is a big challenge to meet the volume of demand from China and other countries. This challenge simply means sustaining the growth of cassava crop in areas where it has comparative advantage. And by implication, this will push the initiative to the next level.

 Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Vanguard (Lagos)
March 25, 2007
Posted to the web March 26, 2007
John Nwokocha
Lagos

The federal government's directive of making cassava ten per cent content of flour consumed locally may have suffered some frustration, partly why the government came down to five percent cassava content in baked products and confectionery. It is believed that Nigeria's total consumption of cassava per month is 2000 tons, which is high and necessitated the plan to diversify the economic base of the country via cassava export. But immediate challenges put the initiative in jeopardy.

The federal government has the intention to diversify the economic base of the nation through agriculture, in view of which it introduced the presidential cassava initiative in 2002. The government's estimate was that cassava would fetch about N15 billion per annum if optimally explored. The cassava export market alone was estimated to fetch over &#36;5 billion (N635 billion) per annum. As a matter of fact, cassava is the staple food of most Nigerians.
 
But cassava can be put to many uses. Following this discovery therefore, there has been a serious pressure on increased production of cassava, of course, due to increased demand. Take for instance, cassava is processed into flour starch and is of great importance to industries. It is used by confectionery industry. It is equally used by textile and pharmaceutical industries. The government sometime in 2005 caused a mandatory ten percent of cassava flour content policy, for local consumption, through confectionery and baked products. But the irony is that the flour millers who were expected to implement the policy were said to have been undermining the project. 

They refused to comply with the government directive, an act which threatens the initiative. This, coupled with the reduction of tariff on imported corn flour, by the government, from 20 per cent to five per cent is creating a huge challenge for cassava flour processors.
The decision by government to reduce the tariff is definitely unpopular and counter-mands the initial intention to boost the economy through revenue generated from the agricultural sector. It is doubtful if anybody will contest the fact that the corn flour is an alternative to cassava flour indeed, the pharmaceutical sector prefers corn flour to cassava flour in the manufacturing of drugs. And it is understandable that the tariff reduction is to encourage the pharmaceuticals. But the consequence is negative impact on the nation's economy.

Is it not ironic that the official commercial interest in cassava in Nigeria is reportedly only two years? It is baffling that despite official declaration to boost cassava production and positive steps for greater economic gains, cassava cultivation across the country is still by hoes and machete, which constitute part of fundamental problems cassava farmers or growers are faced with. And these are potential problems that are capable of frustrating all efforts and commitments at government levels and individual level. The implication of this is that Nigeria will lose its leadership position as the largest cassava producing country in the world. In point of fact, Nigeria grows more cassava than any other country in the world. Its current production capacity is put at about 34 million metric tons per annum.

And the total area harvested of cassava in 2003 was 3.1 million hectares with an average yield of about eleven tons per hectre. The idea behind the presidential initiative on cassava is to put Nigeria's economy in the context of global competition.

And to realise this dream is the need to upgrade the use of cassava into primary industries like ethanol, chips, flour and starch, aimed at providing an industrial base for further diversification of the national economy. On a per capita basis North central is the highest producing zone, at 72 tons per person in 2002. It is closely followed by South-East zone with 56, South-South 47, South-West 34, North- West 10 and North-East 01. Benue, Kogi and Niger states are the largest growers of cassava.

However, association of cassava farmers in Niger state decried lack of government's support. They told our reporter that they were in distress. They reasoned that adequate funding and provision of modern equipment were central to improved production of the crop. In other words, the position of the zone as the largest grower of the crop in Nigeria, stands threatened unless the government changes it attitude. The association claims that not much is being invested as expected. Another drawback is that majority of cassava grown on farmland across Nigeria is processed and sold through traditional market channels which contribute little to the national economy. 

A school of thought notes that cassava can be used to improve rural and urban income and development in Nigeria if investments in the downstream sector of the industry are made more effective.
However, research institutes like FAO and IFPRI suggests a more conservative production target for the crop, Nigeria's production of cassava is targeted at 40 million tons in 2005 and 60 million tons by 2020. But before the cassava initiative there had been various organizations that had contributed to the development and improvement of the crop. For instance, research institutions such as the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia State, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan in Oyo State and the Root and Tuber Expansion programme.

On their own, members of the cassava growers association are currently practicing cluster farming. It was reliably gathered that they are about 500 groups committed to cluster farming, and each group has about 30 hecters under cultivation. The group do hire a tractor to plough, spray with herbicide to reduce weeding. But their collective efforts often suffer a setback due to the use of inappropriate tractors.

The result is poor yields. Thus, the non-availability of heavy farming equipment, within the reach of the association of cassava growers is a major constraint towards achieving increased cassava production for exports. Perhaps, it should be emphasized that the goals of the presidential initiative on cassava is to expand primary processing and utilization in order to absorb the national cassava production glut, identify and develop new market opportunities for import substitution and stimulate exports. The programs on the initiative are being implemented through sub-committee.

The minister of commerce heads the committee on export. The commerce ministry recently facilitated a trial export of 1000 tons of cassava chips to China. But it is a big challenge to meet the volume of demand from China and other countries. This challenge simply means sustaining the growth of cassava crop in areas where it has comparative advantage. And by implication, this will push the initiative to the next level.

 Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Transportation - A problem that must be resolved by Government and Citizens</title>
			<link>http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=14</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Mar 2007 13:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nigeriaknowledgecenter.net/mybboard/Upload/showthread.php?tid=14</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Anambra State is located in the tropical region of Nigeria where rainfall is often heavy and the errosion effect very severe. As the rainy season is about to start - already the second rain had fell in the month of March, 2007. As witnessed with the first and the second rains, all the upper soil were washed away. Roads were closed by trees fell down by the heavy winds. This problem is persistent and seems no end. Unfortunately, what is witnessed lacking is the strong community spirit of coming together to respond to emergencies caused by the heavy rain and winds. I mean the lack of interest to removing the debris from gutters blocked by heavy rain or removing trees from the roads that people and farmers use to move food and their harvest is disturbing.

I find it highly deplorable that the sense of community to respond to call to community duty is going away. People are unfortunately waiting for others - especially the so- called 'money people' to do for them what had been civil duties of all in the community. Coming out in huge numbers - (Envronmental day or not) to respond to emergencies or without emergencies, clear the roads once in a while so that it could be "passable."

Anambra State as is known from time immemorial is full of intelligent, hardworking, zealful and self motivated people. All these seem to be gone with the older generation ( I hope not). 

However, all hopes are not lost. The lack of zeal by community leaders to mobolize villagers to clean gutters, remove debris from blocked water drainages must be re-activated. The dependency on government for anything in the village has not been the tradition and we must take the usual initiative ourselves to ensure that our roads are cleared as soon as those heavy rains come and go. We know that the rains are coming, they will be heavy most of the times. Any attempt, especially as many communities are on high elevation, to delay removing and clearing debris from the gutters and recontructing roads blocked or detroyed by heavy rain is a huge loss to the farmers - whose farm products must get to markets, get to the people including family members who depend on them for survival and for the farmers for his income.

Our rural roads - the ones not marked for construction by Fedearl or State government are the most important assets to us - as we use these roads and raod paths on a daily basis for moving goods and ourselves from one point of the village to another village, from another town to another especially since we are more than linked by rural roads that Federal or State roads. Therefore, it is our duty as individuals, as community to ensure that our roads are "motorable' in the sense that our cars, our motorbycycles, our bicycles and our feet are not in any way restricted from moving from one point to another by our own negligence of our traditional civil duties of maintaining our roads.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Anambra State is located in the tropical region of Nigeria where rainfall is often heavy and the errosion effect very severe. As the rainy season is about to start - already the second rain had fell in the month of March, 2007. As witnessed with the first and the second rains, all the upper soil were washed away. Roads were closed by trees fell down by the heavy winds. This problem is persistent and seems no end. Unfortunately, what is witnessed lacking is the strong community spirit of coming together to respond to emergencies caused by the heavy rain and winds. I mean the lack of interest to removing the debris from gutters blocked by heavy rain or removing trees from the roads that people and farmers use to move food and their harvest is disturbing.

I find it highly deplorable that the sense of community to respond to call to community duty is going away. People are unfortunately waiting for others - especially the so- called 'money people' to do for them what had been civil duties of all in the community. Coming out in huge numbers - (Envronmental day or not) to respond to emergencies or without emergencies, clear the roads once in a while so that it could be "passable."

Anambra State as is known from time immemorial is full of intelligent, hardworking, zealful and self motivated people. All these seem to be gone with the older generation ( I hope not). 

However, all hopes are not lost. The lack of zeal by community leaders to mobolize villagers to clean gutters, remove debris from blocked water drainages must be re-activated. The dependency on government for anything in the village has not been the tradition and we must take the usual initiative ourselves to ensure that our roads are cleared as soon as those heavy rains come and go. We know that the rains are coming, they will be heavy most of the times. Any attempt, es