MD Prince Joshua Unveils 30-Year Agri-Industrial Vision as Farmers Hail End to Post-Harvest Losses

By Felix Umande

The CEO and Managing Director of Green Harvest Foodstuffs, Otukpo, Prince Joshua Esho Apeh, has declared that cassava holds the same transformative power for Benue and Idoma land as crude oil did for Nigeria, calling on citizens to industrialize agriculture and take charge of their economic destiny.

Speaking at the company’s launch ceremony in Otukpo, Prince Joshua said the company was birthed to build “a ray of hope” for farmers and young people, and to position Benue at the forefront of national food security.

“Seeing all of you here today gives me great joy, because I believe that when we join hands together, we will transform our land into greatness,” he said.

“This is the land that God has naturally blessed. The land that produces cassava in abundance. A land whose soil has potential to feed Nigeria. Not just West Africa, but the entire world.”

The Green Harvest MD described cassava as more than food, noting its potential for bioethanol and renewable energy.
“Our cassava is our crude oil. Just as crude oil transformed every nation, cassava can transform our people, if we are willing to invest in it, process it, add value to it, to take us to the global market.”

He urged a shift from selling raw tubers to full value-chain development:
“We must farm. We must process. We must add value. We must build industries. We must create jobs. We must export. And we must make our people prosperous.”

Prince Joshua said Green Harvest was starting a movement “for food security, for renewable energy, for farmer empowerment, for industrialization, for youth empowerment, and ultimately, a movement that will restore pride to Idoma land.”
He called on government to support the model for replication across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Farmers and community members who spoke to journalists at the event described the company’s arrival as timely, citing years of post-harvest losses and price crashes.

Mrs Comfort Okubi, a cassava and soybeans farmer from Ogulewu, Ogbadibo LGA, said access to market had been her biggest challenge.
“Ah, with this company, I really appreciate the man that brought this company to this land because at times, especially during rainy season, at times you find selling of cassava difficult due to the places where we do the farm. But with this company that just came here, we are very happy because it’s a welcome development. It will be easy for us to do our selling of cassava and other farm produce.”

Okwesi Dominic Ogbe from Otobi-Akpa, Otukpo LGA, said Green Harvest factory had eased farmers’ burdens by processing raw produce locally.
“Before Green Harvest Cooperative Society, most of us just harvest our crops, sell them raw to the market, then ship elsewhere for processing. But Green Harvest now, I think it eases our burden because they come to our place, buy or ask us to bring the raw materials, they process for us, and it adds value to what we do. The difference is far, far better, it’s incomparable. Ordinarily, I would say it’s like a 500% increase from the way it used to be, as it is now.”

Engineer Okpachu Odeh, a retired mechanical engineer and lecturer from Federal Polytechnic, Idah, now farming in Ihimini, Otukpo, described the launch as “a godsend” amid falling cassava prices.
“Since the advent of Tinubu’s administration, with cassava, we were all proud. But unfortunately, overnight, two years back, the cassava prices and garri crashed from over ₦35,000 per basin to now ₦5,000 in my community, people borrowed money to plant this cassava massively. And you can imagine the disappointment, I know of friends who are dying from payment of the loans that they took. So, this is actually a hope awakened.”
He urged the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect local farmers from further price shocks.

Prince Joshua assured that with God, farmers and youth on board, Green Harvest Company was determined to succeed and make cassava a premium product for Nigeria.

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Six locations in five states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been chosen by the Federal Government for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed this after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the ministry’s activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Maiha revealed that the pilot programme would commence at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau as the model concept for the new ranching programme.

The five states identified for the pilot programme and FCT are Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna , Nasarawa and Plateau.

He said the areas were selected because they have recorded some of the highest incidences of farmer-herder conflicts in recent years. In his words:

“Our understanding is that large numbers of cattle on the move are crisis-prone because grazing routes have disappeared due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development.

“Nomadism, as we know it, is no longer sustainable and we need a different concept.”

The minister added that the government had engaged more than 34 pastoral organisations and would continue consultations to build support for the policy.

He said the ministry recently met pastoralist leaders under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and would hold another engagement within two weeks.

The minister said the policy would encourage pastoralists to rear animals in designated locations rather than move them over long distances in search of feed and water.

“Today, we go and fetch the grass and bring it where the animals are. Better still, grow the grass where the animals are.

“There are genetically developed grasses with all the nutritional value required to feed livestock,” he said.

Maiha said the government would provide housing, veterinary clinics, schools, primary healthcare centres, solar lighting and water infrastructure in designated ranching communities.

He added that each grazing reserve would evolve into an economic hub capable of attracting milk processors, modular abattoirs, bio-digesters and other livestock-related businesses.

“Imagine what you are going to have if you have 30,000 herds of cattle in one area. The milk collection alone will attract processors and many other investments,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government was also implementing a nationwide livestock identification programme using radio frequency technology.

According to him, all four-legged livestock would be tagged for identification, geolocation and proof of ownership.

He said the initiative would help combat cattle rustling, recover lost animals and build a comprehensive national livestock database.

Maiha said the ministry was also promoting dairy development, commercial fodder cultivation, modern abattoirs, veterinary services and poultry production.

He disclosed that seven model veterinary clinics had been established, with plans to provide at least one model veterinary hospital in every state.

The minister added that the government was strengthening vaccine storage facilities and encouraging investments in dairy and red meat value chains.

On the ministry’s progress, Maiha said about 20 states had established similar livestock ministries or agencies, reflecting growing acceptance of the Federal Government’s livestock development agenda.

He commended Tinubu for his support and commitment to transforming the livestock sector.

He quoted the President as saying, “The value chains in the livestock sector are fantastic,” while urging Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in the industry.

Even though five states, and the FCT have been selected for the pilot model, only Wase in plateau state has been clearly mentioned as a designated site.

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

An MoU to provide agricultural support and opportunities for three million women through the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme has been signed between the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

Expanded women’s access to finance, mechanisation and opportunities across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain is what the deal aims to achieve.

The Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, while speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and women’s economic empowerment.

She acknowledged women’s vital roles in agriculture but lacked adequate access to finance and resources needed to expand their businesses.

“This MoU with the Bank of Agriculture fills the critical financing gap confronting women in agriculture.

“Women are already farming, but many cannot scale because they lack access to finance and support.

“Access to finance will move women beyond smallholder farming into agro-entrepreneurship, creating agro-billionaires,” she said.

The minister hoped the WAVE Programme would enable women to participate across the agricultural value chain, including mechanised farming, input supply, processing and other agribusiness opportunities.

According to her, the programme will also provide education, digital tools and other support systems to improve women’s productivity and business success.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said about 33,000 women had already indicated interest, while the Federal Government was targeting three million beneficiaries in the coming years.

She urged women across the country to embrace the initiative, saying their economic empowerment would strengthen families, communities and national development.

“Women are the solution. We must attract more women into agriculture and create opportunities that amplify the gains of this partnership,” she said.

Earlier, Managing Director of BOA, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, said the bank was committed to expanding agricultural financing for women, who accounted for a significant proportion of its reliable loan beneficiaries.

He said the bank would support women through input financing, mechanisation and other interventions designed to improve productivity and incomes.

Sotinrin said farmers would access improved seeds and other inputs at subsidised interest rates to boost yields.

“Instead of one tonne per hectare, farmers can harvest up to five tonnes through improved seeds and better support. Raising productivity remains Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural priority,” he said.

He added that women would also access tractors at subsidised rates, with repayment spread over three to five years.

“A woman can acquire a tractor, provide services to farmers and repay gradually until she owns it outright.

“This strengthens the business case for women in mechanisation,” he said.

Sotinrin said BOA would work with farmer aggregation companies and cooperatives to improve access to loans, ensure repayment and expand agricultural financing.

He expressed optimism that the programme would attract greater support from development partners and relevant government institutions.

Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Esuabana Nko Asanye, said the MoU would help move women from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

She said the partnership would provide access to mechanisation, input financing, improved seeds, demonstration farms and agricultural knowledge.

She added that beneficiaries would also become tractor owners, operators, seed producers, input suppliers and agribusiness managers.

“The programme begins modestly but progressively empowers women to become financially independent,” she said.

Asanye said the initiative would improve women’s incomes, strengthen household livelihoods and boost national food production.