THE PUNCH, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

Page 1

FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 11.1011

Former agric minister urges FG to promote large-scale . Federal HE farming of the idea of the Federal should T Government evolve adequate measures

Standard ~ Chartered (~

to promote large-scale farming in the country, a one time Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, has advised. Mustapha, an established farmer, had also served as the Minister of Defence and Interior at different times. Speaking at a two-day commercial Agriculture retreat in Kaduna on Wednesday, Mustapha described the idea of developing commercial large-scale

farms

as

a

welcome development. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Commercial Agriculture Development Programme is a comprehensive fiveyear World Bank-assisted project aimed at assisting participating small and medium-scale commercial farmers to access improved

technology, infrastructure, and output finance market. The five states participating in the pilot phase of the programme are Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Cross River and Enugu. Mustapha, who was chairman at the occasion, however, expressed sadness

and

Pharmaceuticals

has concluded

arrangements to introduce a

far was not impressive.

concept of developing functional large-scale farming in the country was "wholeheartedly endorsed and accepted." He called on the

"Prior to this retreat, there had been few attempts by the Federal Government to encourage the development of largescale farms/farmers; yet I do not think we are out of the woods on that effort," he said. Mustafa said that, while farmers were not in support

with the level of potency and efficacy of Flabora Anti Malaria tablets. They were, therefore, looking forward to the forte, which provided cdnvenience

and

whose

dosage could be completed in less time.

He said, "We ensure that we stay in touch with our consumers through our Field

Marketing team as well as research and development efforts,

which

are

aimed

at tracking the trends in determining the dimensions responsible for customer satisfaction and creating new

Here for good

.-J

products that will ensure that our consumers are truly satisfied. Hence, we are able to indentify the need for the Flaborq Forte."

opportunity provided by the CADP to "minimise the contraptions that keep large-scale farms hemmed up and unprofitable."

some consumers to prepare

that the increase in the price

their meals without the vegetable. A market survey conducted by the News Agency Nigeria on Wednesday in some markets in the Jos metropolis

showed that a small onion bulb, which formerly sold for between N10 and N20, now costs between N50 and N60. The survey also showed that the price of a big bulb had increased to N100, from N50. just as the price of a bag of the vegetable had jumped from N3,600 to N7,000.

of onions had compelled her to find alternative spice

for her food. She said she had resorted to

using

locust

beans,

which, according to her, serves a similar purpose, A consumer at Terminus

Market, Mrs. Esther Dalyop. told NAN that onions had become a vegetable for the rich, adding that she had been compelled to cook her food without the vegetable. "Sometimes, it is djfficult

to see a bulb of onions; only the leaves and they are very expensive too," she said.

Some traders attributed the price hike to scarcity Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim. who sells onions at Katako

Market,

blamed

the

scarcity of onions on the

Onashokun explained that both packs of Flabora anti-malaria tablets

care providers distinguishing

that consumers were satisfied

government to seize the

A residentofDadin-Kowa, Mrs. Alice Daniel, told NAN

consumers that have used its

of the product in Lagos on Tuesday, said the feedback from the market had revealed

the

price of onions has risen in Jos, forcing

T HE

contained fixed dose

spoke at the inauguration

farms,

Price of onions soars in J os - Survey

product, "Flabora Forte" into the Nigerian market with the aim of meeting the yearning demand of the teeming Flabora Anti Malaria brand. The company's General Manager, Operations, Mr. Najeem Onashokun, who

governments

operating

FQ Pharmaceuticals to introduce Flabora Anti-Malaria brand

FQlimited

state

that the implementation so

the same combination

of artemether and lumefantrin, offering health the only feature,

which was that the forte contained six tablets as against 20 in the regular pack.

2010 flood disaster that ravaged Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states where onions are produced in large quantities.

He said that the flood washed away many onion farms.

Ibrahim added that the incessant crises in Jos also

contributed to the scarcity of the vegetable.

Nestle to reb rand Milo product ESTLE Nigeria Pic is set to rebrand its product, 'MILO', promising a more

N

delicious

and

nutritious

taste. The product will also

February 19, 2011, and would be heralded by !he maiden Nestle MILO Mum 'n' Child Marathon (a special fun race to celebrate mother and

packaging label and the

child and ultimately promote family bonding). The Marathon, which

single-serve

is

come in a more attractive has

been

open

to

mothers

with

upgraded from 15 grammes to 20 grammes sachet for a

children between 10 and 14 years of age, according to the

richer chocolate tasteo

statement, will have attractive rewards in cash and other

A statement from the company on Wednesday said that the reformulated MILO was an improved blend of the natural goodness of cocoa, malt and milk, among others, to give a more delicious and more

satisfying chocolate malt taste with active ingredient, which includes Actigen-E. It noted that the product would be inaugurated on

'0' '0;0.

gifts. "The

winning

mother

and child will get N250,000; the first and second runners-

up will be rewarded with N150,000 and N100,OOO, respectively, while the next 40 mothers and children will go home with N50,OOO each plus many consolation

prizes,"

the

statement added.

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