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REDUCING FOOD POVERTY BY INCREASING AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Related to country: Nigeria



Over the past 40 years, per capita world food production has grown by 25%, with an average cereal yields rising from 1.2 tones per hectare (t/Ha) to 2.52t/Ha in developing countries (1.71t/Ha on rain fed lands and 3.82t/ha and irrigated lands), and annual cereal production up from 420 to 1,776 million tones. These global increases have helped to raise average per capita consumption of food by 17% over 30 years to 2,700 kilocalories (kcal) per day, a period during which world population grew from 3.69 to 6.0 billion. Despite such advances in productivity, the world still faces a persistent food security challenge. There are an estimated 790 million people lacking adequate access to food, of whom 31% are in east and southeast Asia, 31% in south Asia, 25% in sub-Saharan Africa, 8% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 5% in North Africa and near east. A total of 33 countries still have an average per capita food consumption of less than 2,200kcal/day.
An adequate and appropriate food supply is a necessary condition for eliminating hunger. But increased food supply does not automatically mean increased food security for all. A growing world population for at least another half century, combined with changing diets arising from increasing urbanization and consumption of meat products will bring greater pressures on the existing food systems. It food poverty is to be reduced, then it is important to ask who produces it, who has access to the technology and knowledge to produce it, and who has the purchasing power to acquire it? Modern agricultural methods have shown to be able to increase food production, yet food poverty persists. Poor and hungry people need low cost and readily available technologies and practices to increase food production. A further challenge is that this needs to happen without further damage to an environment increasingly harmed by existing agricultural practices.
There are three basic strategies option for agricultural development if food supply is to be increased;
Expand the area of agriculture, by converting new lands to agriculture, but not resulting in losses of ecosystem services from forests, grasslands and other areas of important bio-diversity;
Increase per hectare production in agricultural exporting countries (mostly industrialized), but meaning that food has to transferred or sold to those who need it, whose very poverty excludes these possibilities;
Increase total farm productivity in developing countries which most need the food but which have not seen substantial increase in agricultural productivity in the past.
Sustainable technologies and practices in food production systems have been proven to be helpful increasing total farm productivity and thus help achieve substantial agricultural development. This is not to say that industrialized agriculture cannot successfully increase food production. Manifestly, any farmer or agricultural system with unlimited access to sufficient inputs, knowledge and skills can produce large amounts of food. But most farmers in developing countries are not in such a position, and the poorest generally lack the financial assets to purchase costly inputs and technologies. The central question therefore must focus on;
To what extent can farmers increase food production by using low-cost and locally available technologies and inputs?
What impacts do such methods have on environmental goods and services and the livelihood of people who rely on them?
The success of industrialized agriculture in recent decades has often masked significant environmental and health externalities (actions that affect the welfare of or opportunities available to an individual or group without direct payment or compensation). Environmental and health problems associated with industrialized agriculture have been well documented by several scholars and authors, but it is only recently that the scale of the costs has come to be appreciated through studies in China, Germany, the UK, the Philippines, and the US.
What then do we understand by Agricultural Sustainability?
Agricultural Sustainability systems are systems making the best use of nature’s goods and services whilst not damaging these assets. The aims are to;
Integrate natural processes such as nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, soil regeneration and natural enemies of pests into food production processes;
Minimize the use of non-renewable inputs that damage the environment or that harm the health of farmers and consumers;
Make productive use of people capacities to work together to solve common agricultural and natural resource problems such as pest, watershed, irrigation, forest and credit management.
Agricultural systems emphasizing these principles are also multi-functional within landscapes and economies. They jointly produce food and other goods for farm families and markets, but also contribute to a range of valued public goods such as clean water, wildlife, carbon sequestration in soils, flood protection, groundwater recharge and landscape amenity value. As a more sustainable agriculture seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services, so technologies and practices must be locally adapted. They are most likely to emerge from new configurations of social capital, comprising relations of trust embodied in new social organizations, and human capital leadership, ingenuity, management skills and capacity to innovate. Agricultural systems with high levels of social and human assets are more able to innovate in the face of uncertainty.
Improving agricultural sustainability may not bring all the solutions, but promising progress has been mage in recent years. With further explicit support, particularly through international, national and local policy reforms, these benefits to food security and attendant improvements to natural, social and human capital could spread to larger numbers of farmers and rural people in the coming decades.
Segun Oworu is a graduate from Lagos State Polytechnic who had a distinction grade in Agricultural Management and Extension. He had held several leadership posts even in his youthful age. Currently, he is a member of the governing council of a non-profit/non-governmental organization named Center for Sustainable Development in Agriculture. He heads the Financial Control and Admin Department of the organization and also head of the Rural Development for Sustainable Agriculture Initiative of the same organization. He is also a practical farmer and owner of a Food Mart business in the Lagos Metropolis.

January 18, 2010 | 4:47 AM Comments  0 comments

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LASPOSUG SET TO ORGANISE MARATHON RACE
Related to country: Nigeria



By Adenike Ashogbon


The Students’ Union Government of Lagos State Polytechnic is set to introduce an annual sporting event which will effectively boost the morale of the Students of the polytechnic.
This declaration was made known to Campus Life recently by the present President, Mr. Ajibike Taofeek Babajide a.k.a Atom during a talk session.
Tagged; Lasposug Marathon, the maiden section of this new innovative is expected to hold in the early hours of February 17 ths year as it is designed for all bonafide students of the institution and it would cover a length of about 10 – 11 kilometers from the school gate to third gate then to Ile-Epo round about Ikorodu.
Ajibike noted that the marathon is aimed at improving the sporting experience of students of the polytechnic and also serve as an avenue to display the abundance of talents in the students, thus launder the image of the union and the institution.
To coach the race is the SUG and the school coaches, they would also organize the race and verify each students’ participation through the sports committee which will demand for the photocopy a form of identity of school identify card.
At the end of the race, five winners each is to be selected from the male and female categories and would win prizes ranging from desktop computers to cartoons of milk to standing fan, executive recharge lamps amongst others.
Expected guests for this event include; representative from the institution, Ikorodu Local government area, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Nigeria Police (Ikorodu) amongst others.
“The present day SUG, Laspotech is determined to continuously pursue the mission and vision of the institution. We will therefore require the support of the students, school management even corporate bodies as well as the media to bring this dream to reality”, Ajibike said.


January 18, 2010 | 4:47 AM Comments  0 comments

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An advocate with a difference
Related to country: Nigeria


His name is Sahr Yillia; the Executive Director of an NGO called Child rescue based in India. He is a partially blind 26 year old male Sierra Leonian. Doubled as an activist who has worked in Sierra Leone and Liberia on various advocacy issues ranging from poverty reduction, conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS, human right, environmental protection, policy reform/formulation for disadvantaged children, youths and women. In this online interview with Adenike Ashogbon, he takes us into his world of advocacy, his challenges and his aspirations

Describe your identity as an advocate of change in your country?
In view of the above, I have committed my entire life, energy and every thing as an activist to the above as I am of the strongest conviction that together with other colleague activists, we will bring positive changes to the above categories of persons. As activism is my greatest pleasure on Planet earth, I am therefore, inviting colleague activist/advocates to join me in the recent initiative to combat discrimination, social exclusion and marginalization, as well as extreme poverty and illiteracy in the world especially the African Continent for the above mentioned persons through the charitable and not for profit organization; CHILD RESCUE MISSION CRM, as we are on planet earth for a season with a reason of under taking such mission;; because serving more people means, meeting more needs.

What are the main objectives of your non governmental organization that makes you feel its stands out amongst all others?
Well, the overall objective of CRM is to rescue underprivileged children from extreme poverty in West Africa starting with post war Sierra Leone and Liberia. My NGO is involved in advocacy against extreme poverty as well as the welfare of street children and other underprivileged children.

Challenges so far?
My challenges are enough funding for CRM.

What are the future aspirations you have in respect to your NGO?
My future aspirations are to establish a RESCUE VILLAGE in Sierra Leone that could rescue street children and other category whereby they will be provided with free of cost learning opportunities of different interest to them for sustainable development.
All these, I hope to achieve this through support from kind and interested partners national and international together with my personal efforts and commitment.

Considering your present situation as a partially blind fellow, don’t you think it will slow down the pace at which you would advocate for change?
Firstly, I am sorry to say that somebody does not need sight in other to be a visionary as my motivation and passion for my vision comes from the heart. Therefore, I am in no way affected nor do I see limitations in the execution of what I strongly believe in because the DYNAMIC OF LIFE IS WHAT YOU WISH TO BELIEVE IN AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE IN.

So how have you been able to balance these challenges with your dreams?
My balance between these 2 is my articulations on issues of national or international concerns. Additionally, I am strongly using my remaining 4 senses which make me equal on most cases with those with their 5 senses.

What was growing up like for someone like you?
Growing up I must say that it was something I will always remember as I tasted the effect of extreme poverty because my parents were just backyard farmers whereby our daily living came from the sales of products from this backyard.

So far what is your perception about advocacy?
My perception about advocacy is a perfect one as it is something I cherish very much. Infact, even my being today in India on studies is as a result of my vibrant advocacy whereby a scholarship was granted to me by a German foundation to build my capacity in project planning, management, fundraising, communication and leadership skills including computer.

Your advice to youths who are also aspiring to stand out as advocate of change in their various spheres in life
In my opinion, we will only experience positive changes when young Africans are considered as partners in the developments of Africa and not just listeners to some of our failed leaders.
Equally so, it is high time for us young Africans stand up and show this to them strongly in constructive and objective ways.
We should start looking ourselves beyond tribal, national, political, religious or regional lines as what matters is that we are all African youths which is been demonstrated in other parts of the world.
This is why I always refuse accepting the cheap saying that "WE ARE FUTURE LEADERS" because I have the same thinking capacity with these so called elders/leaders and sometimes even more than then as all human beings were created in the same image. Therefore, I strongly believe in collective efforts amongst us African youths.


October 20, 2009 | 7:01 AM Comments  0 comments

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My ordination as a pastor was one of my sad days – Pastor Jeremiah AlaoAkinlade
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Pastor Alao Akinlade is the General Overseer of Emmanuel Evangelical Worldwide Ministry (EWEM), a fast growing church with branches inside and outside Lagos. In this interview with Adenike Ashogbon, he talks about his views about Christianity in Nigeria and his ministry.

Tell us about yourself, your ministry and how you received your call to ministerial work of God?
I am Prophet J. Alao Akinlade. A native of Ogun State. I was born in a Muslim background and was named Taofeek by my parents. According to the family doctrine whenever a mother gives birth to a child, the first thing they do is to look into the destiny of that child and know the kind of there Ifa said that I shouldn’t go near the route that school leads to the only primary school in the village.
Years past, I didn’t go to school but one day I heard some people singing a song which goes thus “father take me lets go to a school so that I would not suffer no more and then I told my father that he should take me to school but he tried convincing me that I was too old but I told him I was ready o go through shameful time studying even at an elderly age.
I wore my Buba and trousers and when I got to school everyone was calling me Baba because I was older than all of them and as a student they make mockery of me in the school premises.
When I was in primary 5, my father died and no one to assist me. I had to fall behind farming and getting snail for sales no one to assist. I was actually struggling to survive all these period because the truth of the matter was that I was faced with lots of challenging as well as turbulent times.
In 1971, I got to Lagos, I lived a rough life. I took to herb and alcohol. It got to stage that I don’t get drunk after taking lots of it. All theses period I resided in Mushin. One of my good allies then who use to drink alongside with me then changed. He started going to church and also convinced me to do the same. The first year, I ran away and I was able to at the third time.
That third year that I entered the church it all seems as if the pastor ministering that day knew all about me. While preaching he appealed that is there anyone among the congregation that smokes Indian Herb, drinks a lot, if there is the person should depart from such act.
I had a charm on my ring which I got from Benin republic and my waist all these period as I believed that they are my god of protection in my acts, ways and charisma, little wonder that I was just shying under the umbrella of misdeeds and mischief.
On the third day that I was meant to go for the church programme, a brother of mine that arrived from Mecca and when I informed my parents that I was going to church for a service, she started cursing me, she cried and felt humiliated at my decision as she felt I was head in towards destruction. I told her that I have made up my mind and that there was nothing she could do about it, other than to bless me, but she also had a strong hold in her personal discomfort.
After all these my mother implored one of my Uncles then called Alhaji, to look into my issue for three days and that after that three days if I don’t change them they should throw out my load and luggage.
At that time I was now living at 13, Wosilatu Akinsanya Street, ijeshatedo and I had to evacuate the house for a shop. There I slept for a year; my father had neglected me and left me to face the consequences of my personal act. I had to go through a very hard time.
At times, I would have to sleep in the church, no food to eat, no money with me. At times I would hold on to a paper and pray that God should turn it to money, when I one my hands it is still the paper no changes at all. All those period, I wore one trouser, shirt and a pair of slippers for a year.
Through faith in Christ I got married in 1981, then I went to bible college 1983. Another reason why I didn’t really want o do the ministerial work of God was because I didn’t know how to beg. Just like imploring people to contribute for something in the church and the likes of others.
I am the first person in this Africa to open the god called Odo Ifa in Ogun state thus, turning it to powder and this happened when the church embarked on a mission work to preach people in the rural areas, those are still under the veil of idolatry.
And so we continued visiting villages, enlightening them of how to give their life to Christ all these and many more were basically the measures we adopted in evangelism.
In 1993 we built the headquarters of EWEN church, we have lots of branches, men of God and we have the grace to proclaim the gospel work of God. Revivals have been done in so many ways. We have branches in Ikeja, Ikorodu/Shagamu, Abeokuta, Alimosho/Ijegun and we also have ministers in charge of this church branch.
In 1985, Emmanuel Gospel Church ordained as a pastor, it was a sad day because I felt I was in bondage. I would no longer have the priviledge to eat what my friends ate, could talk the way everyone did around me, I felt I was just depriving myself of that others have the free will to do. After my ordination, I went up the hill of deliverance, Ori Oke and I was there for 21 days fasting and praying and getting back my friends ask the kind of fasting I did and I told them that it was White fasting.
They later explained to me that I was no meant to fast without taking anything that I was meant to break at night; just that I wouldn’t take any food substance that contains salt, pepper and oil.
Disappointment took over my heart as felt depressed, so I had to embark on another 14days fasting in the way they have explained to justify all things.
Then whenever call my attention to the fact that God want to use me I was easily pixed in the sense that I feel I would be enslaved immediately I surrender my all to God. Then came one fateful day, I had a vision for the first time, in that vision I saw that father said that we should 4 men to him that he wanted to send us on errand. Then I made an excuse that I would want to first of all build a house.
Immediately the father heard this excuse he told the others to go and that I should wait behind, there and then he made it known to me that he wanted to use me for the proclamation of his word.
In 1987, I went through a serious hard time in respect to my health, then I use to feel a terrible pain in my heart, this also affected the way my heart beats and then I was the leader of prayer warrior and I told the rest member to pray for me. Then one of us answered saying “you this stubborn fellow, God wants to use you and you are hardening your heart, what is wrong with you?”
Then I had a brand new Peugeot car that I was using as a commuter transport vehicle, the day I renewed my driving batch God spoke to me, my wife, father and brethren in the Lord. One reason why I feel I am in this ministerial work is because god has known before now, places that they told me not to get to I have been there.

Weeks back Nigeria celebrated an additional year of independence, what strategies do you feel should be put in place for the smooth running of the country towards growth and development?
Only one thing is missing in our country and that is self less service. It is missing in our act of governance as well as in the heart of the governed. At that time when I was younger we look forward to celebrating independence.
Then there was nothing like petroleum as it is being raised in high esteem, even cocoyam but we all had the fear of God in our hearts. Nowadays we only have people who are really selfish in the government. Even the spiritual leaders that are mean to scrutinize their acts and actions also help instigate them.
People in government hold meetings with these pastors, present them with envelopes filled with money, then the pastors give them prayers in return, people that you know are involved in dirty games.
Now, we have people that have and do not want his or her neighbour to excel in their endeavours. From youths to old, they are told ……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Views about Christianity in Nigeria?
Ever since I have made up my mind in this Christian race, I have never failed in Christ. Nowadays, I hear the word deliverance those that have met Christ and those that don’t even know Christ run towards deliverance and there we have pastors who are ever ready to deliver them and after these deliverance those that are not born again go back to their iniquity.
They have turned Christianity to a hereditary service like a father to son possession. Nowadays, you see pastor and his wife poster outside and you are shown that this church is run like a family property.
Though, I was not born into a Christian background but I later feel in love with Christianity and the manner it was being handled.
They have bastardized Christianity in Nigeria; no one wants to do the love of Christ. All they know is money, pride and these have hindered God’s glory in our world today. If and if only things are done selflessly, then there would be a drastic change in the face of Christianity in Nigeria.
If we look at the church now, they don’t talk about God’s salvation rather they talk about how to make millions, thus making faith change in all ramifications.

Christianity and the world?
Christians are meant to be people who do the will of Christ, but the definition has changed nowadays, there are no longer Christians because they can’t be easily spotted out for good aside the worldly and materialistic characteristic of the world. It is very hard for people to identify a Christian as we look like same of the same. The world has entered the world and the world in faith.
Take for example, nowadays, you see the police checking the boot of a Christian even after he or she has identified himself as a Christian or even a General overseer. This is to say less of the little way people have polluted the name Christian in this part of the world.

There is this news in your church that you promised to give a car gift to anyone that gives birth to a set of triplets what led to conceptualization of this vision?
One day, God told me to have a meeting with people that are barren. There and then at the first meeting, I wanted to know those that have given birth to children before but are not alive, a large number of them raised their hands; I repeated this question and a large percentage still raised their hands. This spurred me to challenge God and the faith of those present through the first decision that; out of these people anyone that gives birth would be given a bible gift from my personal purse.
And anyone that can give birth to a set of triplet would be given a car gift. The next years, so many of these women were blessed with the fruit of the womb but so far, none has been able to give birth to a set of triplet.


October 20, 2009 | 7:01 AM Comments  0 comments

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Cleric urges government to be selfless
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

By Adenike Ashogbon

General Overseer, Emmanuel Evangelical World wide ministries (EWEM), Pastor Alao Akinlade have urged all government officials to be selfless in all their acts, actions, ideas and opinions as leaders as this would loosen God’s heart towards our individual heart desires.
He made this appeal after the rounding off segment of a seven day revival that was held in the church premises at Fadahunsi, Ijeshatedo last week with the theme; Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
According to him, Nigeria is undergoing turbulent times because the people in government as well as those governed have decided to forget their source of overflowing wealth which is God.
Thus, the only way to settle scores with him is to; come back to their kneels, accept all their wrong doings and then imbibe a selfless life that cuts across ones assets, aspirations, vision and mission.
In his words, ”Nigeria is a country blessed with lots of good things, if you would ask me I will tell you Nigeria is one of the best places in the world because the Lord has shown us much love in all ramifications, but we the creatures are the one that are taking all these endowment for granted.
While growing up, we didn’t have much concentration on the likes of petroleum, cocoyam and soon, all we had passion for was just the fear of God and nothing more. But considering the present situation of the country, one can easily notice that no one cares about his or her fellow neighbour, instead they pay more emphasis on themselves and themselves alone.
Even the pastors and Christians that are meant to be the mouth piece of the word of God are also helping the government to instill evil in the country. From the young ones to the old ones, all they value is their selfish interest and this doesn’t really speak well for a country like Nigeria”.
In all, he enjoined all Christians to always strive hard to live exemplary life within and outside their environment as this would also help change people’s orientation about the Christians way of life rather than seeing Christians as every other person in the environment.
He noted that this change should reflect, in their mood of addressing diverse issue, trend of dressing, measures adopted in profounding solutions, method of accommodating people amongst others.

October 20, 2009 | 7:01 AM Comments  0 comments

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