Thursday, June 23. 2011
THISDAY, Vol. 16, No. 5904, Page 47
·development
0 ·Business:WORbD
"This country hardly produces enough rood and a large amount of the ones produced are lost during storage, leading-fo huge post·harvest losses. The estimated monetary value of post-harvest losses is in hundreds of billions of naira annually"
- Chairman of the National Atomic Ellergy Commission (NAEC). Dr. Erepamo Osaisai. speaking in Abuja at the Imematioual Atomic Ellergy AgellCY (IAEA) regiollo/workshop
W'Bank Disburses N65m to 44 Fanners in Kano
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ile Knno Siale World Bank Assisloo Commercial Agricuhure Dc.velopmenl Projeru (CADP) Ilru; assi§ttd fOIl}' four farm · ers groups with a gran t of oVQ' si.'(!y five million Nair:!. (N65m), in order to boosl their agril:Ullural aclil'i!ic:s. The projecl has also commenced constnJCtion of five farm accc:.ss roads across lhe suue. 1bc roads cons.ists of 2.S.5km lalerile and S.51on paved al Shanono to Lc:n.i; Zaria road 10 1'assa; Katda 10 ' Yanlabi: Bahturi 10 Tangaji and Diggollo Dausa III thc: lOla! est imal~ COSI or O\'er N46Smiliiofl. SI:J.!e Projc:a Coordin:llor orCADP. Muhammad Bada.... i. said these in Kano al lhe -llh World OanklFcdcrol Government of Nigeria joim projccl impiemenl.:llion supervision mission 10 the swe recently. 1bc: benefilin, fnrmen;; hallC embalkal on expansion and modernisation, whiie cbe mads ....'ben compleled .....oold facilitate c:lS)' access 10 marteu and n:duce both the tfllvellimc: and cos"'. said lhe Projecl Coordinator. Joint project implemenuuKIIl supervision mission is being cooductc:d half yearly 10 IS$c:SS tile: project performance with a view 10 ascenaining the progJtSS made and ~ loopholes for the overall ~ or conunc::;,~aJ agriculture in the roun-by.
1lIe mission tam .....as led by the World Bank's Task. Team u.:.der on Ihe project, Dr. Lucas Akapa
and CADP', Nalional Coordinator. Dr. Ami n Babandi. Others in tile: learn iocludc:d World Bank', Senior Communications Specialisl, Mr. ObaLliah Tohomdc:l. his tOUnlc:rJW1 on Environment, Prof. M . Usman, alongside representatives of the N;u:ionaJ Planning Commission. PBCN. eso, and NACCl~'IA among other coll:lbor.tIOB. The tc:ilm visited §c:\'tr.lI inlervc:ntion sites to IS5es.s tile scale of lhe project impkment:uion. While interacling with fannen. the 1"a.d:: Team lLwkr. Dr. Lucas Akapa. said CADP is one of the many inleMnlions initialed by thc: Work! Dank to boos! agricultural acLivil~. eliminate hunger and miLJl;'.e ~ny across Nigeria,Arnea and the World al lartc· Thrilled by lOo·tw Ile: saw during visits 10 the pr0ject Inlervention !iiles. Dr. Akllpa. rc:mark~ thai, "wlwl .....e hal'e seen today in terms of construction of farm access roads has signalled thc: much needed ttansfonnalion of rural areas Ihrough agricultur. aI sector. which is ooe of lhe militaling factors
From Ibrahim S/nunbu ioot;-. against the WSllIinabJe gT1)Wlh of Ihe seaor". He said Commercial Agricuhull: Oc:\'elopmem Project (CADP) will conlin ue 10 enc:ounlgc: pnxilElion, processin, and markeling of the seleC1c:d value chains in the five parlici~ting Slales and w isl NigerilUl Go\'enlmc:fll in ;1$ dc:I:amin!uion 10 attain food sufficiency as cnvisaged in \'ision 2020. A renowned dairy flllTl1Cr, Danjuma AJi Garl:o. whose farm benefited from the projc:l;:t inlervention, commended. CADP inilialive 1100 funhcr disclosed that ror Nigeria 10 allain sustainable deve lopmen t, dte country nec:d!i 10 in\'eSI heavily in agril:Uhwt: as the furure or the .....orld economy belong 10 the sector. "CADP is Iddrc:ssing .....due chain constraints by l upponing farmers 10 access improved bullslseeds, rertiliUl' through enhanced linkages.access Il:liable market infOllT\lllion as well 1$ addrc:sting Ihc: dire need ror ruml occess roads d1.&1 will improve access to I'I'IIlri:et and reduce tfllvel Lime and cos!'" Garko !il~ . 1bc Nalional Projc:.a Coordinator of CADP, Dr. Amin Bllbandi, advi5C'd small and medium In.Ie commcmal faonc:rs 10 wablish strong Commodity II1tCreSI Groups bc:cau5c: of lhc:ir aitical role in moving them away from subsistence fanning 10wards commo:rcial ranning. Dr. Babandi noted that. "Strong and viable ConunodilY Inleresl Groups wi ll 5C'rvc: :u a condui t fOl' introducing and di~rul.lion of improved prIlc:ticc and lechnologies which would help WpPOO increase in agr1cultur.1l pmdUc:tiviry and ~ fanners iflC(lme". The project in the SLate is eJlpc:c:tc:d 10 impoct 00 10.000 small and medium comnlUCiul farmc:n; while marlY households will bc:rn:fil indirc:cdy through iICaSS to farm occess roads. el'lCrgy aru.I marke l through spillover effects. II will also suppon access to pmduc:tivily c:nhanc.ing technology, improve marttt access, impro\'e capacity building and Ic:dmological ~ and impro\'e access 10 infrnsuuc~ - roads and energy as !he baDe: Ittalegy of the project 10wanls attainment or the desired
."".
The USS I50 million projecl, which C0mmenced on July 30. 2009. is upecl~ 10 close on December )1. 201~.
Combe Smoky Rock's Not a Volcano - NEMA esidents of NdaneJlUll Kargo village IIlIlC bt:cn advised 10 ktql 500 mcues square dista!w::e. away from dl( §milky vent on Abadaguri roc:ky range due 10 the emission of poisonous gases in the form 0( smoke. National Environmenlal Management Agc:rq (NEMA) Nonheasl Zonal COOIdiOalor, AliJU
R
S:imbo,madc the~\Oo'hile~! the
I6..T.rUcaI rcpon of the InIc:r ~ Commill« set up to invcsti~ an earlier Il:JlOIttd \'Olcanic activity inthe~.
Explaining the situation, die NEMA Coordiruuor noted thai the openings in the rock (llhel'wise koown ns fracture 5ySlc:m ttvough which the smoke emiru:d \\'a1:. fOfT1ll:(] as a resu lt of deformation durinS tb: n;:d; formation. tie II.kIcd that die gaseous smoke being c:mi1lCd from !he ltd is as a rcsull of the water !hat pc:rcoblcs through ope:niDgs in the rock reacting with !he nx:I:s Wldcm:ath. The gasses emanating from the rocky range IS monitored with the Air Quality Monitoring EquilX1lCDl by NESREA (kmiSl Mr. Kingsley NIOo'lJguon lite ISthof Juroe2011 ~SulphurdioA id.?; (SO) 2=1.8pen per million, Catbon monoxide (CO) =4.2 paniJCI-miliion. Hydroge n sulphjdc I I.?S=OD) pan.per-million and OLOI1I!; (Oll ;QD p::u1-pcr.nuJIJon BUI on June: 16. 11 w.tS only SlIlphur dlOlIidc: ema· nating from the ~~ w 2.3 pan-per-millioo and,wrroundin,!! temper-dun: n!'CORicd Ln be )7.8 degn:c
From SeguIIAK'oJadeji .. G.Ur
LI)SSONS FROM OrnER lANDs
Sierra Leone: Free Health Care?
T
here is • brief bu5tIc: and then • woman wails lIS the gnaJl body is wrapped in clOIh and 5d on a rot by the door of cbe paedialric waru_ NtIISe$ in prisIinc: ..... hile uniforms conlinue to pad quietly around the IaJxe room at Ola During
Children's Hospilal in Fn:etOlOo·n. Sierra Uonc:'s capital city. Infants arecrarnmed lWO or tt'Re 10 a bed.sometimes more. Since. the introduction nearly 14 monlhs ago of free hc:aIth care for prqnanI women, Iacwin& mothers and children undet five, the number of people coming 10 sr.c.t ~I hal; ~ up. Slaffing and e:quipmenl Iw not risen 10 malch, !caving hc:aIlh worten WlIll8ling to deal wilh ttr inflU.'( , according 10 an In\ef Pnss Service (IPS) report iii Freetown. Siem. Lc:ooc:'s ambitious plan 10 UIcltJe one of the world'i highesl ~ of matemaI monaliry and infanl dc:.M/1 has g;unc:n:d much praise from both inu:mational donors - 1Oo'jK) fund Ihc: majority oflhe propn - and from within the c:ountry'l own bor-
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In a cwnuy where one in fi\'c: childrat dies before their fifth binhday. and one: in eighl W(IrJEn dies from complic:aOOns 0( pregnancy or childbinh, free IleD.Jth can: is secn as 11 huge step fOl'Wlnl- and an enonrous challenge. Acconling to a rccc:n1ll:port by Siena U,ooe's ministry of health and SlIIIilll1ion, govenunan-run
~tals saw aboui thrcc times lI!i ffiaI • chiW=. under fi\'e - nearly lhr.x million - in l ., first 12 months of Ihc: program as 10 the pm::c:"! Ig year. Moo:; !han 126.000 women gave birth ir. ~1aI in the flfSt year 0( the pmgnm,compami to 1ihou1 87.000 in the previous year. The nusnberof mHlernal complications uc:lICd in hospital i~ from about 8.000 10 o\'Cr 2O,IlX). "Although the. number of health ~ff has bo.-:n Increased iince the laiw:h 0( (iroe health cu-c) ' t is still insu trlCieru 10 /TI3Ich the sen'U t.Io:li\'C:J} demand," said the repon. milled -n.c: me He3Iih Care Initiative: I Yar On." The COil of the fIr'S! year of free health care is csLimllled as. 3(i million ooll:lrs. Ihc: majority of which is pul up-by dooors. BUI rqJOfl5 of corruplion within lhe system arc: widespread. Palients Il:COUnt being asked to piy ror liCn'ice;; and medications that dIoukl be free,orhavin! 10buydrugs when hospital supplies are said 10 Ilave run W I_ A 2D09 AffilICSIy lnaenwionalll:pon identified COStas the Imgest bmic:r 10 u,'QITIeD and children aa:es.sing l1eahh 5a'>.'as.ln II counuy ta::ovc:ring from a decadc..loog war thal ended in 2002, 70 pc:n:c:nl of Ihc: population li\'cs on less than orie dollar a day. There are fewer than 100 LIoc:tors for some sill million people and nWlS! hc:aIth facilities are pood)' Ujui~ and lad: basics like ~ supply and electricily.
I
Swaziland: No Sanitary Wea f1er I new!ipOper Ih:lt Prudcncc.. ( 16) used as
A
Anitary wear rell from her " 'hile me played wilh friends a! school, UIC lefi and nc:lICr ",wnoJ. The impovcriWod A-!iludc:nl coul.:l not IlanLIle the leaSing or embanassmc:nL It WllS not the f~ Lime the Nkonyeni High School ~pil was embarrassed by l.cr period_ OUI this incldenl proved 10 be more !han $he could beaI-, lIIXlOfding 10 an lruer Pn:ss Service. (IPS) rqxH1 in Mbabane. -nus studem would also fUld henelf in the uncomfonnble position of having blood flowing down her legs because her periods lended 10 be Yc:rJ heavy: said Todvwa Mnisi, a leacher III l he: ><hool. Prudence (nol rcaI na.mc) ..... as 100 embarr.Issed to go bilek IOschool andC\'c:olually m:uried - c:nding her studies. The prevalence of Ibis problem has lhe SwazillUld National Associalion of Teachc:n; (SNAT) considering approaching govemmem. According 10 SNAT gender offICer Bongiwe KhunWo,many teachers have identified this problem III dlCir 5ChooIs. Vcy few have been ~ble 10 assist the youn, girls bc:caw;c: of lack of resowttS. However, the organisatioo has no swistics available on how many girls are leaving school. She said by p!O\'iding sanillUy 1Oo'C:U , governmatt OOtlld i1elpcnswe thal moll: girts do notdrop out of school. ' OUI the challenge is th.aI, with the c:conomK: aisis facing the coonuy, go\~nUTll:nt is
cemigraLlc as againsl 34..5 degree cenliplc on Jwv:: 1S.20 11. Alhaji Snmbo explained the gasses arc: cap:ilik of having harmful drcru on plants and animaJs in the cnvironmc:ru (M% a proIonsc:d Cllposurc:. 70 per c:enI of the guns sc:ilt:d in Maico Accadin&!)', II tkllli1ed geolog.ic:lllllld geographand submined 10 /I U5 . gun-ncing f!IU" icaI im'CSligation tIllS Docn n:x::onunended IOddergramntc: came from the United Swes.acconIrnUIC the depth of the fnlaute to defmnjllC !he ing to a rc:pon released by threc: US. Setllll(n gJ:CIhcnnal region. MOfX!ay. In Ihe same vein, the need ror drilling 10 dc:ter- · or theJ9,284 fin::arms m::(I\'ertd by authorilies mine: the stnUigroplly of iN: cnvironmeru has also in Me:xioo in 2IX)9 and 2010. 2O.stJ.I came from thc: been advised. Toa\'Oid an ~UIatiOn of a pmb- UnilCd States. according to figutCS providJ!d 10 !he able howIrdous conseq~ on the popuba: to senators by the Bureau 0( Alcohol, Tobacco, Ihe meantime, the Inler-agencies Comminee F.rcarms and ExpJosiVdl. strongly rc:aJ/t\I'l'lOd canying QUI analysis 011 Most o(!hose weapons - 15.111 - were: u .s. animals. planls and 1Oo~ (souroe:s 01 drinkmade, while anollier U73 were of roreign ffiiIfWing W3tCf) arould the environment. facrure tau had moved dlrtJLlgh !he Uniled SI3IeS According to die Inla.",cocies Comminec, the. into ,.,ic:Jt~, occotding 10 an AFP rqxtr1 wpplicd phc:oorntnon for IIOW is neither a \'01t:anic at:Iivi- by the Mc;(icnn Embassy in Alluja. . l)' nor an c:artllquakc bul II ~ of vr.w::r and The A1'F snid the n:maindcrofdle we:tp0n51Ola1 !he undc:mcath (I'ObabIy results to the c:mi:s- I- S.780anm - wereof"undeiennined origin due 10 sioo of gases, ~_ insuffident: infcnnatioo provided.' Ali)'u Santlo 1oNe\'a' explained !hat IheDThe fi~ of the nwnbcr of guns mriving in wort: was incondusi\'c:. l ie ac!\'istd thai fulther f..bico from nonh 01 the border has bi:en loemianaI)'Sl5 be carried 001 on the dcvc:lopmc:nIwhile cod a'CI' sil'a a Jww;: 2009 US . ~ CO\"Cringc:Jthe urg«l J.:ovemmcnl ~ odrr o:le\';II1t Hut/lOri· lier l-eatS said thas. 87 percent or guns seized in lies 10 bep lfI(lIlitoring .~ p.~ . i\fc:xlC'O ClIT'oc: from Ih: Unili!d St:lleS.
not lil.:ely to be open to such ideas," said Khumalo. The Illl:k of sanilary wear among poor Swazi girls has forced a group of young women 10 spring into llCtioo 10.) help. 'The: Swazilnoo Young WOIllI:n Network (S YWN), comprisina of lOo'(lflll:n living ..... ilh lilY, professionals. leni:uy illSlilUllons an.! c:ommunilic:s, is lr)'ing to gel p:oplc 10 conlribwc loIUII\W)' wear ror poor !i,I$. The campaign stancd in Do:cmber bul 50 f:lf. they have not been too SUl:ces.sful.lllCY say this is because nl:tny pc:opledorlOllllink thai lad: of s:ul1I:tl)' wear is a pmbl~m . llle IIC:lwort.; is intenSifying aW3rCrtc:!iS of the silU:llion throIlgh mc:di~ COlIJ1. paigns. About 6J per cau of iN: SIOo'Ui population lives below die PO\'eft)' line of IWO dollan; a day. ~ counuy a l50 has aboul 130,(Dl orphans and vulnerable children. the majority of whom are girts. MoSt oflhc:se orphans do 001 have access 10 pr0per Wlilllr}' 1Oo·e:tr. And most young llIOfTlen arc )ubslilUling proper sanitary wear willl rug.!:, I'ICwspapm; and loild paper, u id Luhlanga. These m:uerials are 001 only inadequate bul SOITII: tamper wilh their reproo:Jucth'C. S)'!iICmS. ACCOI'ding to Family Ufe Association of Sw:uillnd (FL\S) communicalions and marl:etins nl..103gc:r Mancoba Mabuu. IIcwspotpen and rugs nrc diSC()W;lgc:rl because Inc: m:ueri..al used could C"JU5c: infa:tio~ in lheir ....Jgina.
Mexico Drug War: Origin of Guns
Abool
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While Ihe Iq)M did not sp:cif)' why !he perhad changed., the ffiOSI R'CefIt figures
Centage
appear to iocll.ldcd more ~O"JCe rc:pons. as !he: rcpooing program in ,., lalCO becunc easi.:r to usc. EvidcN:e!hat US. weapons trnffd:ing Il..:Ls bc:cn fuelling a bloody drug war that has t:O!iI moo: thall )SJXX) lives in Maico s.i," Late 2006 has angc:n.:d lTIiIIly Muic:ans. The repro, i!isucd by Sen. Dianne F.:illSlein of California and 1100'0 00ICr sen:tlOIS, fl:IXlII1ITICId b:dground checks ror sales II gun shows.a ban 00 !he impOl1 ofnon--spcmng ~ and !he: rrinSIlikmCnl of!he assauk weapons ban in rorce in the Umled StIl1cs wuil~ . Calderon ~ call!; for rein~.-uing !he ban on domestic sales of ilMaUJl rilles, sayine illl eJlpiration in 2004 may ha\"e pl~yed a roll in the increast of dNg violc:ncc: in Mt:lko. 'You can clearly sec: ho\J.. the riolenc-e began 10 smw in 'XXlS. and nI' ~ it ha~ gOllCoo;ll\ upw·m l sIILr.l1 in die las!: SIJI y.:.ar..: CaltJc:mn ,.;uJ !
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