Consequences of signing grazing reserve bill into law for establishment of grazing reserves in all states

Femi Fani-Kayode writes:
1. SUDAN DOWNLOADING IN NIGERIA.
"I decided to read a copy of the National Grazing Reserve Council Bill and I was surprised at what I saw.

The Bill creates a council to be chaired by a Chairman to be appointed by the president.
The council shall have the power to take your land anywhere the land is located in the country and then pay you compensation.
Your land, when taken, shall be assigned to herdsmen who shall use your land for grazing purposes.
They shall bring cows to the land and you shall lose the land permanently to those Fulani cattlemen" - OKONKWO AFAMEFUNA, FACEBOOK, 18th APRIL, 2016.

2. YUGOSLAVIA DOWNLOADING IN NIGERIA.
"I decided to read a copy of the National Grazing Reserve Commission Bill and I was surprised at what I saw.
The Bill creates a commission to be chaired by a Chairman to be appointed by the president, to be confirmed by the senate.
The commission shall have the power to take your land anywhere the land is located in the country and then pay you compensation.
Your land, when taken, shall be assigned to herdsmen who shall use your land for grazing purposes.
They shall bring cows to the land and you shall lose the land permanently to those cattlemen.

If you feel that the commission was not right to take your land, you can go to court but before you go to court, you must first of all notify the federal attorney general of your intention to sue the commission.
Apart from notifying, you must get the consent and authority of the Federal Attorney General before you can sue.
So that means that if the Attorney General refuses to give his consent to the suit, you have lost your land forever to the herdsmen.

And this law, when passed, shall apply to the whole country so it means that your land in the village or anywhere is not safe.
The National Grazing Reserve Commission would have the power to take away your land from you anytime they want and pay you whatever they want as compensation (even when you don't want to sell, and remember that for you to get compensation, you must have documents showing or proving ownership).
So I think that we all in the South West, South South and South East must rise up and reject this Bill. We must do all things to force our national Assembly members from passing that bill into law.
That bill is a deliberate attempt to take our lands and hand the land over to the Fulani cattlemen since it is only the fulanis that rear cattle in Nigeria.

That law, when passed, shall fulfil the directive of Uthman Dan Fodio and other northern leaders to take over other parts of Nigeria. I implore you to use all available means to implore your senator and Rep not to pass that law.

That law will destroy Nigeria.
All over the world, ranches are established and used to rear cattle. The farmers buy land and put there cattle there. There is no country where the land of the citizens are compulsorily acquired and given to others. This is evil, and designed to favour the Fulanis where the president comes from. We must resist the passage of that bill into law to save Nigeria, and to protect our future generations" - EMPEROR GABRIEL OGBONNAYA, FACEBOOK, 18TH APRIL, 2016.

3. LEBANON AND ZIMBABWE DOWNLOADING IN NIGERIA.
"This National Grazing Bill if passed into law will just mark the beginning of apartheid in our country. When the government of Zimbabwe collected land from the white people who naturalised there the whole world worked against President Robert Mugabe. Sanctions were stiffened against his regime even though the whites in Zimbabwe were not African by origin. In our country today there are people that are not Nigerians by origin and these people are making laws to take over our inheritance. This nation will burn once this law is passed" -DURU COLLINS, FACEBOOK, 18th APRIL, 2016.
4. COLONIAL INDIA (BEFORE SHE WON HER INDEPENDENCE FROM THE BRITISH AND BROKE THREE WAYS INTO PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH AND INDIA) DOWNLOADING HERE IN NIGERIA.
"The National Grazing Reserve Bill is the ticket to kill us ALL down south. This is not the time to sit and watch evil triumph over good.
I have called the Senator representing me and I have spoken common sense to his senses! He KNOWS what this is all about NOW.
Listen people of God, it's time to get angry! You will come to understand how devilish Buhari's APC government is the moment you realise they are talking about a Bill that will protect the Fulani militants who, according to the Global Terror Index, are ''the 4th deadliest terrorist group" in the world, and neglect tens of thousands of victims that have suffered gory attacks by these daredevils.

This government is gradually telling us their priorities and it's clear the lives of the southerners are not their priority. THIS GOVERNMENT IS EVIL. The ploy is on. They want to send the Trojan horses to our walls. They want to start the war from our lands. They will fail.

They can't send their militants here in the guise of herdsmen. Those herdsmen don't own those cows, the rich Fulanis do. And I know their plans. Subsequently I will tell you guys more, you will be shocked. But for now, please get on your phones and call those representing you.

Tell them not to accept this Trojan horse. It will burn our region, it will kill our children's future. Let idiots that are southerners keep supporting APC. They don't care about you, they don't. You will BURN if their plans work!" - OYINEMI NICHOLAS ENDELEY, FACEBOOK, 19th APRIL, 2016.

5. SYRIA AND IRAQ DOWNLOADING IN NIGERIA.
"And if they are still in any doubt about where all this is heading in the Nigerian context they should consider the following.
On December 30th 1964, Mallam Bala Garba told the West African Pilot newspaper that:
"the conquest to the sea is now in sight. When our god-sent Ahmadu Bello said some years ago that our conquest will reach the sea shores of Nigeria, some idiots in the South were doubting its possibilities. Today have we not reached the sea? Lagos is reached. It remains Port-Harcourt. It must be conquered and taken.”

This is an eloquent expression of radical Islam, with its pervasive use of violence as a tool of conquest and subjugation, in its purest and most obvious form.
Inspired and equipped with this Janjaweed philosophy and ethos, the whole of core northern Nigeria was conquered by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio through the use of terror and by the power of the sword in the name of jihad. Millions of innocent non-Muslims were cut to pieces in the process. Given the activities of Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen in our country today it appears that some in our shores are still interested in implementing that satanic agenda.

They wish to continue where Usman Dan Fodio stopped and they wish to "dip the Koran in the Atlantic ocean".
Their latest attempt is the introduction and proposal of what is known as the Cattle Grazing Act which will give the Fulani herdsmen the right to claim other peoples land all over the country and which will empower them by law to create their own settlements and communities in the territory of others.

Worse still under that law the government will be compelled to fund those settlements and put all that they need in terms of infrastructure in place for them. That is why our Minister of Agriculture is now talking about importing Brazilian grass for the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

This subtle and exceptionally brilliant attempt to infiltrate and conquer by guile and assimilation reminds me of the frightful laws that were put in place in the old wild western prairies of 19th century America.

Those laws gave the white settlers rights over the lands of the indigenous Red Indians and saw the Indians themselves subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing and herded into barren reservations that were not fit for human habitation.

It was in this way that the "wild west" was conquered and the once proud and noble war-like Indian tribes of the western prairies were subjugated and subdued.
Sadly our legislators in the National Assembly from the south and the Middle simply do not appreciate and cannot comprehend the serious implications of what they are doing by supporting this evil legislation and neither will the consequences of their naivety and folly be suffered by their constituents until it is far too late.

If that law is ever passed and implemented, two years from that time we will regret it deeply as a nation because it will result in nothing but conflict, chaos and strife between the Fulani herdsmen and settlers on the one hand and the local indigenous population on the other.
The tragedy that unfolded in Jos, Plateau state between the indigenous Christian Beroms and the settler Muslim Fulani for many years is a graphic example of what will be replicated all over the south and the Middle Belt between the Fulani and the various local indigenous populations if that law is ever passed and implemented.
As a matter of fact it will be far worse than anything that Jos ever saw. The Cattle Grazing Act will not result in enhancing unity and peace but instead it will result in division, bloodshed, carnage and chaos"- FEMI FANI-KAYODE, ''THE OUTLAWS OF ISLAM", PREMIUM TIMES, 25TH APRIL, 2016.

When you create a conflict which has its roots in religion, ethnicity, land rights, the attempt to marginalize, dominate, subjugate and conquer others and the quest for liberation and freedom from slavery and bondage all mixed into one you are toying with a conflagration that will not only be simply horrendous and that will not only affect the whole of Africa but that will also last for the next fifty years.

Let me be clear: the greatest evil that we are confronted with in Nigeria today is the National Grazing Reserve Bill. It is more evil than anything that we have ever seen before. It is more insidious and dangerous than anything that we can possibly imagine.

It will do more harm to us than Boko Haram and the Nigerian civil war put together and it will result in open war and the total disintegration of Nigeria. I am speaking prophetically and I am saying this under the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We must stop this cantankerous and divisive Bill from seeing the light of the day and being made into law. There are some things that are bigger, greater and more important than partisan politics and this is one of them.

We must all stand together regardless of our political affiliation and stop this evil Trojan horse from being smuggled into our ranks by those that seek to subjugate and conquer us. We must resist those that seek to strip us of our self-respect, self-worth, liberty and dignity.

We must stand up against those that seek to destroy us and rob us of our faith and our ancestral lands. We must say ‘’never’’ to those that seek to belittle and enslave us and that are hell bent on reducing us to nothing even within our own shores.
May God help our people and our country and may He deliver us from evil. (Facebook/FemiFani-Kayode)

Meanwhile the senate has said that grazing reserve bill has expired

Cummunal conflict between the indigenous farmers and herdsmen in some states, which has resulted in killings and destruction of property should have been a case study to evaluate the dangers associated with free range grazing and activities of nomadic herdsmen against farmers' families and enterprises. Many farmers want establishment of cattle ranch instead of grazing reserve that will cause serious problems in all farming communities.

Ambode visits Imota Rice Processing Factory, say Eko Rice will flood markets in six month

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode inspecting facilities at the rice processing factory.

The Lagos State Government, Akinwumi Ambode on Tuesday inspected rice processing facilities at the Imota Rice Processing factory, Ikorodu in the State's bid to promote local production sectors  and actualize the Memorandum of Understanding between Lagos and Kebbi State on rice production.

The factory which has production capability of 2,500 metric tonnes/ hour at present can effectively  parboil and dry rice.

“This is the only platform we can use to allow the inflow of rice paddy from Kebbi State. You will all recall that we just signed an MoU with Kebbi State and the intention is that we want a consistent flow of raw materials to come so that the era of importing rice from abroad would become a thing of the past, he said aside Kebbi State, Lagos is also looking at possible partnership with other states, saying that on the long run, such collaboration will ensure that residents can consume locally processed rice within the next six months.

The Governor said that a process to make the mill private sector driven will commence immediately, adding that a vibrant infrastructure that will attract the best professionals and experts to manage the facility would be put in place.

“This is a major investment and we cannot allow it to rot away. So in the next three to six months, when we come back here, we must be eating Eko Rice,” Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said.

Read also: Rice cultivation

Akwa Ibom targets 80,000 acres of cocoa plantation in three years

After months of disappointment from oil-based revenues, States are now seeing the need  to diversified the economy and boost internally generated revenue, involve investors and create more jobs through agriculture. It's time to explore and diligently exploit available resources that will keep the system working. Akwa Ibom State has made the move to revive cocoa production and boost the state revenue.


The news:
Akwa Ibom state government has said that in the next three years, it will increase cocoa production in the state to 80,000 acres of plantation.
The State Government also restated its commitment to undertaking the cocoa maintenance and production scheme as well as Coconut Oil Refinery in the state.

According to Governor Udom Emmanuel, the state investment in that aspect of agriculture was because of their viable value chain as the price of cocoa and coconut oil remained higher than crude oil in the international market.
Speaking in Uyo at the launch of Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme, AKEES, the governor said the scheme was to ginger Akwa Ibom youths to explore other avenues for economic growth through aggressive Agricultural enterprise.

Emmanuel said his administration would continue to encourage cocoa cultivation by providing incentives to farmers with at least five hectares and explained that if the state could cultivate a hundred hectares of cocoa it will regain it ranking as one of the major producer of the crop.

“Akwa Ibom used to be the fourth largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria and we are ready to get back there. Our target, which is very measurable, is that in the next one and half year, we want to double current production. In the next three years, we expect to have up to 70,000 to 80,000 acres of cocoa plantation in Akwa Ibom. I am sure with that we will rank among the first two in Nigeria”, he stressed.

He said the specie of cocoa produced in the state has the best flavour and that a business retreat to brainstorm on how to utilise the various natural endowments to create wealth would be held to enable the State go into large scale production of cassava, tomatoes, vegetables and other cash crops with the application of the right technology to feed industries and for both local consumption and export.

He charged youths of the state to explore the abundant economic potentials to create wealth for sustainability and self reliance as God has endowed the state with enormous human and natural resources that could be utilised to grow the economy, earn a living.

Emmanuel congratulated the beneficiaries of the scheme for taking a bold step to acquire innovative skills to boost their enterprises and described the scheme as an answer to the yearnings of Nigerians for the emergence of small and medium scale industrialisation programme.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters, Mr. Ufot Ebong had described AKEES as a franchise scheme incorporating technical and vocational skill acquisition and entrepreneurial training designed for the implementation of the state government’s new enterprise development programme.

The scheme, he added, was aimed at empowering unemployed youths to acquire skills that would enable them produce goods and services that compete with those in other climes and to re-awaken the spirit of enterprise among youths and position them to benefit from the industrialisation programme of the state government. (BusinessNews)

Read about Cocoa production

El-Rufai lays the foundation of Africa’s biggest poultry farm in Kaduna

Malam El-Rufai

Leadership reports:
Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday laid the foundation of the N30b biggest West Africa poultry/hatchery farm along Kaduna -Abuja road.
The farm is to be establish by Olam group in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.

Governor in his speech entitled Business is happening in Kaduna’ while performing the ground-breaking ceremony for the Olam Integrated Feed Mill and Poultry project in Chikpiri Gabas village, said the project was not about the size of the facility but jobs that would be created in building and running the poultry project.
el-Rufai said he believed that the return of vibrant economic activity, and the reduction of poverty will drive prosperity and reduce the divisions that became pronounced as the state’s economy entered dire straits from the late 1980s.

“I am delighted to welcome you all to this ground-breaking operation for the largest agro-allied investment project in Kaduna State. We acknowledge the confidence that the Olam group is displaying in the soundness of our policies and in the prospects of Kaduna State by choosing to site this USD 150m poultry project here.

“When I led a delegation from the Kaduna State Government to Olam’s headquarters in Singapore for discussions with their senior management in September last year, we went with a clear message that Kaduna is open for business, and that the government views the promotion of investments as vital for the realisation of inclusive growth and shared prosperity. Olam was persuaded, and they have pleasantly surprised us by the sheer scale of the investment project they have embarked on.

“Thanks to Olam, Kaduna State will be host to the largest poultry farm with integrated feedmill in sub-Saharan Africa”

“ The farmers that have an expanded market for their grains through the demand from the feed mill and other value-chain activities that are stimulated.

“We are today taking another significant step in advancing our governance agenda to create jobs and improve life chances for the people of Kaduna State. Amidst the challenges that confront us, we are drawing attention to the opportunities that abound. Kaduna State has comparative advantage in agriculture and mining; the government is delighted that many investors agree that we in deed offer a decent business proposition

“ Others are beginning discussions on new projects. We hope that the projects announced will be coming on stream with similar promptness like Olam’s. The government of Kaduna State gratefully acknowledges and thanks all the companies that are supporting our quest to develop Kaduna State” el-Rufai said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh,who spoke through a director, Obina George Opera,director said el-rufai’s investment drive has started yielding fruits, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification of economy from oil to agriculture will remain the administration’s top priority.
Ogbeh however challenged Olam to embark on research to find vaccine against Alvan Influenza and other poultry related diseases.

“This administration will promote all year round agricultural activities and agriculture will no longer be seasonal. We will revamp dams across the nation for irrigations” Ogbeh said.

Country Head, Olam Nigeria,Mukul Mathur, said the N30b poultry project would produce one million day old chicks weekly when completed, adding that the feed mill capacity of 300,000 tonnes per annum will offer formulated feeds at competitive prices.

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FG to launch N59.7bn Youth-In-Agriculture Scheme in September

NAN reports:
Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), on Sunday said the Federal Government would launch N59.7 billion Youth-In-Agriculture Scheme in September.

Sanginga, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, said the scheme would be sponsored by the federal government and African Development Bank (AFDB).
The director-general said IITA would train those enrolled in the scheme, adding that beneficiaries would be trained on how to make agriculture a business with good networking.

"The programme tagged ``Enable Youth Empowerment Agribusiness programme, will engage youths in agribusiness for 18 months to enable them learn how to make agric business plan.

"Each will be given between 25,000 US Dollars and 300,000 US Dollars as loan to start a business.
"The programme started by IITA in 2012, was taken over by the federal government and AFDB to create employment in agric sector.
"To support this objective, the programme will be extended to 36 states and Abuja in September.
"After the programme, we expect the youths to become chief executive officers of factories, companies and creators of jobs rather than job seekers," he said.
Sanginga urged the youths to develop positive mindset in agriculture and take good advantage of the programme.
"They should be serious with the training because at the end of it only those who did well will be rewarded," he said.

Dangote opens Tomato Processing Company in Kano

Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, opened a tomato-processing factory near Nigeria’s northern city of Kano aimed at vying for the local market with imports from China.

“We have fully started operations today and the target is 1,200 metric tons per day,” Abdulkareem Kaita, Managing Director of Dangote Farms Ltd., which runs the plant, said Tuesday, adding, “We are going to work with the farmers, they can afford to produce more because there’s a processing factory and they don’t have to suffer losses like they did before.”

The plant that will produce 1,200 metric tons per day was built following a 2011 Central Bank of Nigeria study that showed it was cheaper to process tomato paste locally than import from China, the source of about 300,000 tons a year worth $360 million. Yet the country produces 1.5 million tons of tomatoes annually of which about 900,000 tons rot, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

Dangote’s facility will produce more than 400,000 tons of paste annually, with most of its raw material coming from farmers in the Kadawa Valley in Kano State. Farmers will receive a guaranteed price of about $700 per ton compared to an average of less than $350 now, according to estimates by the central bank, which helped organize the farmers and arrange credit from banks. (Dailytrust)

Processing of rice

Several operations are involved in turning paddy rice to a well milled silky-white rice and making it easier to cook

Small scale processing 
Threshing
This is done to separate paddy from the straw and can done by mechanical devices or by trampling with feet or by pounding the rice ears in the mortal by pestle. Threshing floor should be very clean to prevent contamination by stones, and other particles. The problems associated with this method are: breaking of grains; mixture with stones and sands; low capacity of threshing, it's labour intensive and consumes energy.

Winnowing
This is done after threshing to separate the chaff and other contaminants from the paddy. The mixture is poured into a flat tray where it will be shaken continuously to toss up and blow away chaff and other particles while the remaining contaminants will be removed by hand. Ineffective separation and loss off paddy are the disadvantages of this method.

Drying 
The paddy must be dried to a safe moisture content level. Sun-dry the paddy for 2-3 days on a clean and stone-free platform to avoid contamination by foreign materials.

Parboiling
This is done by soaking rice paddy in water at ambient temperature, followed by boiling or steaming the steeped rice at 100% to gelatinize the starch. The paddy expands, thus making the hull's lemna and palea  to separate. The parboiled rice is then cooled and sun-dried before storage or milling. Parboiling gelatinizes the rice starch, make the rice grains harder and increase the milling yields. It also improves storage, milling, cooking and eating qualities. After parboiling the rice is dried to a safe moisture content before being bagged for storage and transport.

Drying after parboiling
The rice must be dried to 13 - 14% moisture content, and this must be done as soon as possible to avoid growth of mould.

Milling
This is the process of cleaning, dehusking, polishing and grading of rice grains or reduction of the grain size to flour.

Cleaning
Remove all contaminants or foreign substances before the entire milling process

Dehusking
The process of removing husks from the paddy, and can be done with local tools or mechanical devices.

Removal of bran and polishing
This is done to change the appearance of rice grains to white in order to improve the the taste and texture. It can be done locally by mixing the bran rice with the straws of dewatered sugar cane or guinea corn husks and then pound in a mortal until the grains turn white. The sugar cane chaff and guinea corn husks serve as abrasive materials. Rice processing and milling machines are used for large-scale processing, packaging and branding of rice grains.

Rice production in Nigeria

Rice (Oryza sativa) is produced in Nigeria as food and cash crop and there is about 5% annual  increase in the production. Over 10 million people are involved in rice production and processing. Local rice production increased from 4,080,940 MT in 2010 to  6,734,100 MT in 2014 (NAERLS,2014), but as a result of the increasing population and consumption the quantity being produced is not adequate to meet the growing demand. Increasing consumption of rice in sub Saharan region results in increase in the importation with Nigeria  accounting for about 20% of the rice imports. Ban was imposed on rice importation in the country in 1985 and was lifted in 1995 when the local production couldn't meet the demand. Despite increasing prices of imported rice people have continued to demand for it because local rice production is not adequate. Rain fed lowland rice and rain fed upland rice production are the main production systems, others are irrigation system, deep water rice, and mangrove production systems. Rain fed low land rice accounts for about 50% of total rice production in the country.

Soil requirement
Rice grows well in fertile sandy loams and clays with organic matters and good water holding capacity. Rice requires soil with PH range between 5.5 and 7.0 and heavy  soils with higher water holding capacity. Yields are usually  associated with the heavy clay content, organic matter, water retention capacity, good drainage but not excessive drainage. Rice production must be rotated with leguminous crops such as cowpea, soybeans and groundnut.

Land preparation
Land preparation depends on soil type and cropping system. The land can be ploughed once and then harrowed or harrowed twice to provide good tilt and uniform distribution of water. Ridging is not necessary when harrowing is available. Clearing of the bush, packing of thrashes and removal  stumps must have been done before first rain late February or early March. Plough the land with the first rain if the soil is moist enough.

Varieties
There are numerous varieties and selection is based on the environment and market. These are early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing varieties. There are also varieties for different ecosystem such upland ecology, irrigated lowland and mangrove ecology.

Seed treatment
Fungicides and herbicides are used to treat and protect the seeds against soil and seed borne diseases and insects and to ensure good germination. Seed priming should be done to hasten germination and emergence of rice plant. It is done by soaking the seeds in cold water for 12 hours or overnight and then dry for about 2 hours before planting. This is done to get higher percentage of germination, good establishment and vigorous growth that can suppress weeds.

Planting
Rice can be sowing in the field by drilling, broadcasting and dibble sowing. If germination percentage is greater than 80% use the following seed rates: Dibble sowing 50 - 60kg/ha, Drilling 80kg/ha and broadcasting 80 - 100kg/ha. But If the germination percentage is less than 80% increase the seed rates accordingly. Plant rice at dept of 2-4cm. Dibble 5-6 seeds at 25cm between rows and 20cm between plants and later thin to 3 - 4 seedlings two to three weeks after planting. If drilling method his used, drill rows 15 - 20cm apart.

Nursery practice
If nursery is to be used to raise rice seedlings, soak the seeds for 24 hours, incubate them by covering with polythene bags for about 48 hour for the seeds to sprout and then plant in the nursery beds

When to plant rice?
In the forest area, plant middle of March to April after 2 or 3 rains in the forest area
In the savannah area, plant middle of May to middle of June depending on the rainfall

Transplanting
Transplant from the nursery after 21 days and plant 2-3 seedlings per hole at spacing of 20cm between rows and 15 - 20cm between plants. Replace seedlings that die after germination with the remaining seedlings in the nursery bed.

Determining plant population
Plant population is calculated as total area of land divided by the spacing. For example, 25cm by 20cm spacing will give (10000/0.05) X number of plants per stand.

Nutrient requirements
Combination of organic and inorganic plant nutrients is required for optimum production and to sustained rice production for a long time on the same piece of land. Test the soil for nutrient deficiency in order to know the type and quantity of fertilizer that will be applied. Use organic manure, crop residues, green manures, bio fertilizers and soil amendments. Follow proper time and method of nutrient application, and manage water properly. The following doses can be applied under upland (Sahel, Northern Guinea and Southern Guinea Savannah) , forest and swampy rice ecosystems.
- - -
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Methods of fertilizer application
Fertilizer can be applied by drilling or broadcasting on moist soil conditions or incorporated into the soil at 10 cm from the base of the plants.

Water requirement
Rice needs adequate supply of water for optimum yields. Annual rainfall of 1200 - 1600mm, evenly distributed during the growing season and seed formation is required. Irrigate the crop at tillering, panicle initiation, flowering, milking and dough stage whenever water is not available. Rice field should be drained few days before harvesting to promote uniform ripening and allow timely harvest.

Weeding 
Timely weeding within 2 - 3 weeks and 5 - 6 weeks after planting is recommended. Chemical weeding can done  with the use of appropriate herbicides.
* Preemergence herbicide are applied to the soil to kill weed seeds.
- Oxidiazone
* Post-emergence herbicides are applied to control weed in the rice field. Examples are:
- Propanil + bentazone
- Propanil + Florourodifen
- Propanil + thiobencarb
- Propanil + 2, 4-D Amine. Remove resistant weeds especially grass-like weeds by hand. Follow the recommended rates and use appropriate herbicides.

Striga infestation
Striga is a serious problem in rice field. It germinates only where rice is planted and commonly found where rice has been grown continuously and where soil nutrients are not well maintained. The symptoms include stunted growth, wilting, yellowing and scorching of leaves, low yields and death in severe cases. The weed produces numerous tiny seeds and can easily be spread from place to place. Striga can be controlled by the use of healthy and striga-free seeds, proper fertilisation with combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, timely weeding and crop rotation.

Control of pests and diseases
Pest management- The best approach is to practice integrated pest management (IPM) which is a combination of available pest control to keep pest population below economic threshold levels.

Cultural and mechanical method
This includes the use of resistant/tolerant varieties, adjustment of planting date, inter cropping, crop rotation, crop sanitation, efficient water management, use of traps/poison baits, removal and destruction of diseased plants. Rice pests are stem borer, rice army worm, termites, rice bugs, rice gall  midge, birds and rodents. Use bird scaring devices to control birds.

Disease management
Integrated Disease management (IDS) should be practised to keep plant disease and infection below the  economic threshold level. Various methods that can be used are: use healthy and clean seed; plant resistant varieties; destroy alternative hosts plants; select suitable land; practise crop rotation; follow appropriate plant population; timely weeding, proper inspection of the crops and removal of diseased plants.

Disease causal organism are:
* Rice blast, fungus disease caused by Pyrcularia grisea, Magnaporthe grisea
* Brown leaf sport, fungus decrease caused by Helminthosporium oryza
* Bacteria leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris
* Bacteria leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas oryza

Harvesting
Rice is ready for harvesting when the  grains are hard and the plant turning yellow/brown (about 40 days after flowering). Harvest when 80- 90% of the plants have turned brown to avoid shattering, cut the stems with a sickle, tie the panicles in bundles and dry before threshing and storage. Store the paddy in a cool, dry and rodent-proof place. Use actellic dust and phostoxin to control storage pests.

Yields
Yields between 1,200 and 3000kg/ha for swampy/lowland rice and 1000 - 1500kg for upland rice can be obtained with farmers' practices. Improved  varieties yield 5000 - 6000/ha for swampy/lowland rice and 2500 - 3000 for upland rice.

Read rice processing

Soil fertility Management in Organic Farming

The followings are practised to improve soil fertility
* Organic fertilizers
* Green Manures
* Crop rotation
* Land fallowing
* Mulching

Organic fertilizers improve soil structure, increase the level of organic matters and add nutrients to the soil. Examples are farm yard manure, animal dungs, poultry wastes, kitchen wastes and compost.

Compost
Different organic materials are mixed together to achieve a balanced nutrient composition and structure that provides good aeration.

Compost making materials:
* Plant materials - combination of Nitrogen rich and Carbon rich materials
* Animal dungs - Cow and pig dungs are rich in potassium and phosphorus, poultry dropping is rich phosphorus.
* Wood ash - contains K, Na, Mg, Ca and other macro and micro nutrients
* Rock phosphate - binds to the organic materials
* Add small quantity of soil, esp soil rich in clay to improve the quality of the compost.

Green Manure - The practice of incorporating green plants into the soil through ploughing and ridging. The green plants, usually leguminous cover crops are incorporated to the soil to improve soil structure and increase soil fertility. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is commonly used. Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules of leguminous plants tap and transform atmospheric nitrogen to plant nutrients. The leaves and twigs of nitrogen fixing plants are rich in nitrogen and other plant nutrients, thus they are a good source of fertilizer.

Old and coarse plant materials may not suitable for management of soil fertility because they don't break down readily, and the nitrogen may be immobilized (not available for plant).

Crop Rotation
Different crops are planted on the same piece of land in sequential seasons. This practice  improves nutrient status of the soil and breaks the cycle of pests and diseases when leguminous spp and resistant spp are planted in sequence with other crops.
* Crop of similar feeding pattern and physiological characteristics should not follow each other.
* Maize, sorghum, rice and cassava should be rotated with soybean, ground nut or melon.

Mulching is the process of covering top soil with plant materials such as leaves, twigs, straw, crop residues and wastes of agro processing to improve soil structure and reduce runoff; increase aeration, organic matter, fertility of the soil and suppress weeds. The mulching materials used for these purposes are biodegradable organic materials.

Selection and use of mulching materials should be done with care to prevent buildup and spread of pests and diseases. Some plant residues harbour destructive organisms. For example, stem borers may survive in the stalks of corns, sugar cane and cotton. Mulching materials may also cause termite infestation.

Land fallowing is when a piece of land is left to rest and restore soil fertility for a period of 3 - 5 years.

Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture refers to farming practices in which soil, water, plant and animal resources are used to produce good quality food, and the activities are carried out in such a way to stabilize the environment. Production of healthy foods and maintenance of the sustainable environment are the main reasons for going into organic agriculture.

Definitions
Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem heath, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activities. It emphasis the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished, where possible agronomic, biological and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfil any specific function within the system (FAO 1999)

Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which enhances agro-ecosystem health, utilizing both traditional and scientific knowledge. Organic  agricultural system relies on ecosystem management rather than external agricultural inputs (IFOAM, 2004).

Organic agricultural production is an overall system of farm management and food production that combines best environmental practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources, the application of high animal welfare standards and a production method in line with preference of certain consumers for products produced using natural substances and processes. The organic production method thus plays a dual societal role, where it is on the one hand provides for a specific market responding to a consumer demand for organic products, and on the other hand delivers public goods contributing to the protection of the environment and animal welfare, as well as to rural development (EU 2007).

Aim of Organic Agriculture
The aim of organic agriculture in farming, processing, distribution and consumption is to sustain and enhance the health  of ecosystem and organisms from the smallest to human beings. The intention is to produce nutritious and high quality food that prevents diseases and contributes to well-being. As a result the use of fertilizers, pesticides, drugs and food additives that may have  adverse effects on health should avoided while producing organic foods from crops and animals.

Principles of Organic agriculture
The following principles apply to production, marketing, distribution  and consumption of organic agricultural produce and products.

The Principle of Health
The importance of organic agriculture as related to the health in farming, processing, distribution and consumption is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystem. Health is wholesomeness and integrity of living things. It is not absence of illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being of the living organisms and ecosystem. Thus efforts should be geared toward production of nutritious and high quality food that prevents diseases and contributes to well-being.

The principle of Ecology
Wholesomeness of ecology is based on recycling of resources  and renewal of energy. Attention should be given  to  composition, removal and restoration of nutrients through a process that will add organic matter into the soil. The process involved in crop and animal production should fit into a cycle of maintaining ecological balance. In view of this materials and energy removed from the soil must be recycled in such a way to maintain the environment, improve the quality of life and conserve resources. Farming system, processing and marketing of agricultural produce and products should be done to protect the environment (landscape, climate, habitat, biodiversity, water and air) from threats  and dangers.

The Principle of Fairness
There must be fair play at all levels and among parties (farmers, workers, processors, distributors and consumers) involved in the organic agriculture. The aim is to improve the quality of life, supply good foods and other products in addition to creating enabling  environment for wealth creation and poverty alleviation. Therefore fairness is required in all dealings from production to consumption.

The Principle of Care 
The parties involved in the in the organic farming must ensure the entire process is safe, healthy, ecologically sound and reliable. Where scientific knowledge can't offer adequate solution, traditional or indigenous knowledge should be deployed to areas it offers valid solutions.

Marketing of Organic Produce/Products
Organic produce/products are so special because of their numerous health benefits. There are special channels and procedures  for marketing organic products. The produce/products are certified while farmers and processors are expected to make the products unique through description and labelling in the open markets, supermarkets and home delivery.

Benefits of organic produce/products
1 Natural, wholesome and generally contain nutrients in the right proportions.
2 Have better tastes than convectional products.
3 Have long shelf-refers. The produce or products are firm and have tendency to stay longer than the convectional products because they contain less water per unit weight.
4 Reduce damage to the environment and preserve biodiversity.
5 Reduce nutrient loss through proper recycling of resources, water management and control of erosion.
6 Renewable and sustainable with the use of renewable materials.
7 The nutrients improve health and guard against diseases.

Organic farming can be practiced in cropping system, weed management, livestock, fisheries, pest and disease management.

In pest and disease control, the followings are practised:
* Use of plant extracts
* cultural, biological and mechanical pest and disease control
* Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Disease Management (IDM)
* Use additives approved for organic use.

Read: Soil fertility management in organic agriculture

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