Military
UK Boosts Efficiency Rice Production in Nigeria
UK Boosts Efficiency Rice Production in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The United Kingdom (UK) has assisted in the introduction to Nigeria Systems of Rice Intensification – SRI, a climate smart agricultural practice that would lead to efficiency rice production
The introduced system can lead to reduction of input costs by 50%, with less use of water, doubling yields for farmers and reducing GHG emissions.
A statement on Wednesday by the Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer and Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Ndidiamaka Eze read that: “Since 2021, the UK Government’s LINKS programme implemented by Tetra Tech International Development has been piloting a couple of climate smart farming initiatives; helping farmers to increase yields and become more resilient in the face of climate change while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”
Eze said at a Climate Smart Agriculture results and lesson sharing event which held in Abuja on Wednesday, LINKS demonstrated that the project is starting to deliver impressive results, particularly the Systems of Rice Intensification – SRI, a climate smart agricultural practice which is a different way of producing rice that reduces input costs by 50%, with less use of water, doubling yields for farmers and reducing GHG emissions.
She explained that SRI involves early transplanting of seedlings and wide spacing to allow the plants to flourish, alternative wetting and drying rather than flooding and the use of organic rather than chemical fertilisers.
She disclosed that a further benefit for wider society is the overall climate impact delivered by SRI. Rice production traditionally produces methane (globally contributing approximately 2.5% of all human induced GHG emissions, roughly the same as international air travel) and this is set to grow in Nigeria with increasing consumption and production of paddy rice.
Speaking at Wednesday’s event, Team Leader, LINKS programme, Andrew Thorburn said: “Farmers were sceptical at first but after four seasons we now have over 26,000 farmers in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa actively using SRI. The use of organic rather than chemical fertilisers equally meant that soil quality further improves every season which continued to deliver improved results as well as increased resilience to changing weather, especially flooding.”
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, represented by the FCDO Climate and Nature Lead in Abuja, Martine Sobey said: “The UK Government has a strong focus on supporting Nigeria to deliver its international climate commitments,” adding that: “We are particularly pleased to note that the Systems of Rice Intensification – SRI reduces the GHG emissions produced by rice growers by as much as 40% and look forward to seeing SRI expand throughout Nigeria”.
At the event participants heard from farmers based in Kano and Jigawa who were trained to use the SRI method explain how the change had benefited their lives and that of their communities. They also heard from Silvex International, a LINKS partner and aggregator who is planning to expand SRI to over 1,000 hectares in the coming years that will ensure benefits throughout the value chain. With this positive start, SRI is set to help Nigeria on the road to rice self-sufficiency as well as improving the environment for all.
The LINKS programme – Powering Economic Growth in Northern Nigeria – is a £12m UK government funded programme designed to support the development of a vibrant, inclusive, and diversified economy in three Northern Nigeria States of Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa.
LINKS primary objective is to develop high potential pro-poor value chains supporting them to be productive, competitive, and attractive for investment at every level.
The programme has had two main areas of activity, which are Support for the growth of Climate Smart Agriculture to improve yields, build resilience among farming communities against climate change, as well as reducing the emission of GHG. In addition to SRI, LINKS is also working with 30,000 farmers in Jigawa state to pilot a regenerative farming project that will generate additional revenue from the sale of carbon credits; and the LINKS also works to encourage investment into its focal states, including working with businesses to help them develop plans to access finance for growth and development. Clients range from small holder farmers to high tech start-ups and large corporates.
UK Boosts Efficiency Rice Production in Nigeria
Nigeria: Troops stormed terrorist den, rescuing 44 in Borno
By: Our Reporter
The troops of Operation Lake Sanity IIII, a subsidiary of Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued 44 women, children, and the elderly after a major incursion into the insurgents’ dens in Timbuktu Triangle in Damboa LGA in Borno State.
It was gathered that the victims were rescued after some ISWAP fighters were subdued by the troops of Sector 2 Special Forces troops in collaboration with HYBRID and the Civilian Joint Task Force on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
NEWSng learned that the rescued victims include 28 children, 14 women, and 2 men. However, no military casualties were recorded on the side of troops during the operation.
The sources said that the troops’ resilience and doggedness are unwavering as further exploitation to complete annihilation of the insurgents is being sustained in the mountainous environment.
Nigeria: Troops stormed terrorist den, rescuing 44 in Borno
First Nigerian Female Officer Cadet Graduate from UK’s Royal Military Academy
By: Michael Mike
Officer Cadet Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu has became the first-ever Nigerian female officer to graduate from the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
The 24-year-old Princess was one of the 135 Officer Cadets to graduate during RMAS’ Sovereign’s Parade on Friday in London.
According to a statement on Friday by the Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Abuja, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, the parade marked the completion of 44 weeks of intensive training for the Officer Cadets of Commissioning Course 232.
She noted that at the ceremony, His Majesty King Charles was represented by the head of the French Army, Général d’armée Pierre SchilI, Chief of the Army Staff.
Akande-Alegbe said since the 1950s, several Nigerian officers including former Nigerian President Yakubu Gowan and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye have become RMAS alumni. stating that Princess’ graduation as the first female and 190th Nigerian graduate, marks a significant milestone in UK’s long-standing commitment to supporting Nigeria’s Professional Military Education training, insisting that this commitment to close UK-Nigerian cooperation was affirmed during the recent UK- Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership talks held in February 2024.
The statement read that: “In 2018, Princess joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Kaduna State, Nigeria. During her second year at the NDA, she was appointed a Cadet Lance Corporal; a Cadet Sergeant in her fourth year and in her fifth year she was appointed to the role of Company Senior Under Officer Charlie (CSUO C). She held this appointment with two other female counterparts and made history as the first females to assume the position of CSUO in the academy. In her fourth year, she completed the Academics Wing of the commissioning course and achieved first class honours in Biological Sciences.
Speaking of her achievement, Officer Cadet Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu said:
“It is a profound honour to be the first Nigerian female officer to commission from the esteemed Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This achievement is not mine alone, but a testament to the unwavering support of my family, mentors, instructors, and countless individuals who believed in me every step of the way. As I look ahead to the future, I am committed to representing Nigeria with pride, and to making a positive difference in the world.”
The statement added that; “The UK is proud to celebrate this historic occasion with Nigeria and congratulates newly Commissioned Officer Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu on her remarkable achievement.”
First Nigerian Female Officer Cadet Graduate from UK’s Royal Military Academy
Troops nutrialised 3 Boko Haram, rescued 9 from captivity
By: Zagazola Makama
The troops of 21 armored Brigade, Operation HADIN KAI, have nutrialised three Boko Haram terrorists during a fighting patrol in Bama LGA of Borno State.
The terrorists were naturalized in Churchur village during a fighting patrol by the troops of 202 Battalion in conjunction with Hybrid forces. The troops also recovered 2 dane guns.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, that in a separate Operation in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force and HYBRID forces, the troops conducted clearance T Angwan Jingina and Bula Marwa on March 30, 2024.
The troops successfully rescued 9 persons comprising 3 adult females and 6 children.
The troops equally destroyed the hamlets in the camps of Boko Haram while the terrorists fled.
Troops nutrialised 3 Boko Haram, rescued 9 from captivity
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Army, DSS eliminates 7 terrorists in the North West, recover 10 rifles, motorcycles
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