Monday, June 14, 2010

Cassava for industrial use

Many production industries in Nigeria, has finally accepted the findings that starch derived from cassava, is an essential material mostly in the production of cloths and books. Hence much emphasis is now being paid on cassava as starch to sustain their industrial requirement(s).
It is very obvious that the basic reason it seems that the farmers are not succeeding, is probably because both the government and other establishment are not willing to partner with these productive farmers.
This attitude therefore,

Cassava as medicine

In some parts of the country Nigeria, cassava leaves are used as medicine mostly in the treatment of malaria. Many people that have applied that remedy testify to the effectiveness of cassava leaves as malaria medicine.

CASSAVA AS FOOD

Cassava can be use as fufu, flour mix, Akpu e.t.c
In the country that there is enough cassava produces, they don’t experience much food shortage. Because a stem that you will put on the ground, you already have food ready in your table.

Aims of setting up Gofta farms

The basic reasons for setting up the Gofta Fadama III, an arm of the Gofta world group are;
• To sustainably increase food availability,
• To reduce rural poverty and unemployment,
• To enhance agro industrial and socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
From the findings of the management team of the Gofta groups, it was resolved that for our aims to be achieved, the group must be ready to deploy high yielding resistant cultivars, adapting improved and profitable post harvest processing methods, and facilitating policies to ensure that problems along the commodity chain are reduced. Gofta also has the determination to increase private sector investment in production, processing, storage, and marketing. The result will be that incomes are raised, and the livelihood of millions of poor farmers and rural processors will be improved.

CASSAVA! A BASIC NEED FOR ALL

Cassava is a basic food that human needs and producing enough of it to feed the growing population of developing nations is one of the biggest challenges facing the modern world. The first of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is a pledge by the international community to halve the number of people in the world suffering from extreme hunger by the year 2015, a promise that puts agriculture at the heart of the development agenda.
Three out of four people in the developing world depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood. Indeed, for most low-income countries, agriculture — which includes livestock, fisheries and forestry — is the most important sector of the economy, generating up to one half of gross domestic product, and often the main source of foreign currency. One of the main ways in which agriculture can be made more productive is by harnessing science to increase productivity. A range of agricultural research programs are currently underway in Sub-Saharan Africa, the one part of the developing world where wide-scale food shortages are still found.
Agriculture must also be sustainable. In the past, many parts of the developing world have suffered from overgrazing and the loss of soil fertility through intensive food production. This has often led to the spread of deserts and to a growing interest in developing farming practices for use in our environments.
More recently, an overzealous application of scientific techniques, such as chemical pesticides and herbicides, has brought its own set of problems, ranging from pollution of water resources to destruction of wildlife. As these problems have grown, so have realizations that a basic understanding of the mechanisms that create and sustain biodiversity is essential and the support that it provides to the world's food production is to be preserved.

AFRICAN CHILD DAY CELEBRATION

On the 16th of June, mark another year of the African child. The history of the African child could be traced back to the 16th of June 1978; when in Soweto, (South Africa) the children who protested against the inhumanity done them by their colonial master then, where brutalized and fiercely shot dead. Children between ages eighteen and below were killed because, they were asking for TRUE JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. They wanted to learn in English and not Afrikaans that was used to teach them, then. Instead, their masters brutalized them and finally sent forth the bright future of these Blossom youth into jeopardy; by sending them to early grave. This was a sad moment for the South Africans and the whole of Africa.

It was later decided by the United Nation to set the 16th of June every year, as the day of the African child for more on this story please visit; http://www.prosatelink.blogspot.com
Therefore, we the members of Gofta M.P.C.S limited would like to remind all parents that this inhuman action of the ruling white there instigated the compulsory sending out of school the children of the blacks in South Africa.

We want all parents therefore to get this very clear today that it is not a privilege for our children to attend School, but a RIGHT. So, parents should ensure that help their children to acquire basic education.

We in Gofta limited understands that it is the will of every parents to help their children secure good education. But circumstances hinder their desire and effort. Because of the throes of unrelenting and aggravating poverty they are passing through. In Gofta limited, we are optimistic that we have some clue we can give to parents to enable them help their children through school. In Gofta M.P.C.S Limited we don’t just give you fish; but rather, teach you how to fish on this ground, we want to inform all parents that as a co-operative Society, we believe so much in self-help which is regarded as the best help. We also believe in planning which is a pre-determined cause of action.
Gofta world enterprise Nigeria will be ready to assist any meaningful parent in areas of skill acquisition, productive farming skills and micro loan assistance for your trade. So as to uplift his standard, and give his children good education.

We therefore use this medium of African child day towel come any one interested in tapping from goftaworld knowledge, to call 08035778716 or 08076273402. Or otherwise visit www.goftaworldlink.wetpaint.com



HAPPY CELEBERATION!
GOFTA! WE BUILD PEOPLE
16/6/08

THE KICKING OFF OF 2008 FARMING SEASON

The event took place on the 30th of May 2008 in the Oko ADP premises in Benin City. Many participants arrived very early in order to have a good place to sit down. To be precise, most farmers came in at about 8.00am.
At about 10.22am, the venue was filled to capacity with about 1, 000 farmers in attendance. We were about a hundred that came from our local government area; and 21 of them were members of Gofta farms.
In the process of waiting for the governor to arrive, some invited cultural troupes were in hand to thrill the audience. Among them was the Ugbabonerinmwin of Esanland, the Urhuedo theatre group, there was another cultural group from Auchi that also make the audience feel at home as the participants await the executive governor of Edo State.

At about 12.06pmor there about, the audiences begin to loose patience in waiting for the governor as the occasion was officially schedule for 10.00am prompt. By 2.22pm, the governor Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor arrived with his entourage; after which he immediately swing into action by addressing the farmers present and planting the first fruit in the farm.
What interest the fadama III farmers present in that occasion was the assurance of government support for the fadama III farmers by paying their counterpart fund of the money as requested by the federal government who sit for the Nigerian farmers in the World Bank project. Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor told the farmers that the government has paid N56, 000,000= (fifty six million naira only) on this ground, the fadama III farmers in Edo State should be expected to benefit from this programme when it finally starts off.

The governor after declaring the farming season open left the scene at about 2.56pm. After which Dr. Okperhie took over. The president of all farmers association of Nigeria Dr. Okperhie said that the farming material the government brought for the participating farmers will only be given to only the members of all farmers association (AFAM) This erupt annoyance in the mind of other farmers present who do not belong to AFAM. They tried to make him understand that those materials are brought to all farmers; but he refuse to reason with them. In the process of making it happen the way he wants it, he decided to use delay tactice. Unfortunately for him, this led the audience to mob. As they have been present since 8.00am till about 5.01pm when this incidence happened. The farmers; now angry mob gather in a noisy way round the materials and started to carry at will, what ever they can lay their hand on without the control of anyone. Some of the ADP staffs, who wanted to offer helping hand in calming the situation, were thrown away by the now angry mob.
Dr. Okperhie was confused over his act of no leadership quality he has displayed. I think he has learned a lesson to be generous to all kind of persons even if they are not farmers. If I were him, I might have learned here to accommodate all kind of people; no matter the tribe or language. I also want him to learn here that for all farmers and other registered Society and associations to work with AFAM, it should have the modality, strength, capability and enough room to accommodate these ones. They must also be given a sense of belonging in the scheme of things. Realizing that they are already autonomous body. Thereby not depriving any one by using the presidential position to chaise them from benefiting as farmers from government good gestures. But to realize that in section 34(1) of it, every individual(s) (legitimate citizen of Nigeria) is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person or group.
And that also in section 38 of the 1999 constitution, all Nigerians citizen has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Base on this, Gofta executives will never allow any group, organization, association or individual(s) no matter how strong or popular he is to victimize any body hiding under the umbrella of goftaworld, to benefit from the government good gestures

Thursday, June 3, 2010

FARMERS NEW RESOLVE

Most of the failures the various farmers’ co-operatives facing are caused by their member’s inability to work within the stated objective of such group. Most of these co-operatives are formed with the intentions to quickly grab some benefits the government intends to give out to only organize co-operatives. Actually the program was not set up for these oppressive wolves who pretend to be co-operative society. Unfortunately these faithful and determined farmers are not able to pay the required dues from the government to benefit. Because they fail to pay up their bills which are supposed enable them benefit from the loans they fail to represent the moving force of such organization.

Many co-operative members, because they are not sincerely interested in the growth and development of the group, don’t even make themselves available when there is a reasonable developmental project at hand. Their wholesole participation would have been the members prize to reduce cost.
This was the case with some lazy members of the Gofta group. Many of them only make themselves available when they expect to benefit from the group
It wasn’t an easy task by the dedicated and business minded executives of the group; by means of the founder initiator to encourage, sensitize and to motivate these ones to visualize what they will benefit from the group if they press ahead.
Like it is always said by already developed organization. It was not easy for us to get there. This information is recorded, down in order for other groups that are coming up not to give up when it seems many of reliable members are slowing down. Keep up the race, as your persistence can be a heart strengthening factor to re awaken the week ones.
The fact still remains that governments are not always the factors for some up-coming groups. Rather the individual groups by means of their members can also lead the way to their doom.

FARMERS COOPERATIVE! WHY NEEDED?

It has been ascertained by the international co-operatives organization IOC that there are several kinds of cooperative societies that exited. Among them are:-
1. Credit union
2. Agricultural co-operative
3. Consumer co-operative
4. Junior co-operatives and
5. Other co-operatives ( e.g., workers, service, Housing , investment , marketing and funeral )

Here, we want to discuss on the Agricultural co-operative. These are groups formed to help organize agricultural producers into organized associations.
It is very clearly accepted in some land that farmers played a major role in making the agricultural sector the strength of the economy.
But the fact is that they are not cared for, not recognized. We wonder then whether the government wants the sector to exit. Deeply rooted in our heart, we all are aware that a nation without farmers is no nation. Base on this fact, Gofta multi-purpose co-operative society see the need to singlehandedly spearhead the reformation of the Agricultural co-operative in the state.

To ensure that they are recognized as talk and do organization, the Gofta M.P.C.S. ltd from the farmers desk of the society, cultivated a reasonable expanse of land in the year 2008, and the planting of their produce which is cassava was started on 31st Dec 2008 in the farmland. After the process of developing it for farming was completed. We are Proud to inform the public that today 25/11/09 from the produce of their farm, has processed and packaged a cassava product. Therefore becoming the first co-operative society to put into the Nigeria market, the Gofta packaged garri.

On this ground, from Wednesday the 25th of November 2009, Gofta becomes the first co-operatives society to produce, process and package garri for consumption in the Benin City market, Nigeria.
These are good evidence to know that Gofta world group has the capability to represent all farmers in the state.
The effort of the group is visible and their strength is felt their goals are gradually being achieved. Therefore we request the government at all level to support the good gesture of the unrelenting, determined and optimistic farmers known as the people’s Eucalyptus GOFTA! WE BUILD PEOPLE

WHY FARMERS SEEMS CHEAP

The situation the farmers are facing in our society today takes our memories back to the word of George or well in his book Animal Form. The old major almost the oldest animal and the wildest animal in the farm, summons his comrades and started to remember them of the present predicament they are facing in the farm.
Remember! They produce all the product, the farm is known for but our lives are miserable, laborious, and short”
Don’t be perplex dear reader about the situation farmers have been facing and are still facing. We are born, allowed to take little that make us live, then we are deceive to the farm to face a laborious work even a heavy duty machine cannot do . When we try to complain about the inhuman treat rant we are getting from the various government that be, we are threatened and warned of the danger we will be facing, if we do it.

No farmer in our state has known the meaning of happiness or leisure during their life time. The lives of the farmers are miserable and almost like that of a slave. I know you won’t doubt this because, that is the perfect and plain truth.
My comrade farmers and I continues to wonder why our government cannot be able to render assistance to this organized, serious minded and law abiding citizen of the land.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

BRIDGING THE GAP….. prosatel

The essence of practicing democracy all over the world is to create a government that is responsive and responsible working to develop the interest of it’s masses. It is to create a platform were the interest of the masses are being represented, where both the rich, palatinate and peasant are being given equal right and privileges as stipulated by law. In essence, there are advantages that goes with democracy that is why it has been practiced by great nations, all over the world.

Abraham Lincoln in his words described democracy as……….

Growing cassava, how Easy?

For most Africans, cassava is grown to be eaten. Though low in protein, its bulky tubers are rich in carbohydrates. Pound for pound, cassava packs more than two and a half times as many calories like maize or yam, Africa’s next two most important staple foods. Its young shoots and leaves are good to eat—high in vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
One big factor contributing to the importance of cassava is that it is so easy to grow. No extensive land preparation is required, other than removing shrubs and vines and making sure that there is some sunlight. When the soil is moist, the farmer plants stem cuttings from which the cassava will grow. It doesn’t require a lot of weeding, and it needs little or no fertilizer, fungicide, or insecticide. It also can be harvested at any time of the year.
Cassava is amazingly hardy. It grows well in good soil and in poor. It thrives from sea level up to altitudes of 6,500 feet [2,000 m]. It flourishes in areas of heavy rainfall, but it is also fruitful in climates where there is no rain for nine months of the year. Even if a fire should burn it to the ground, cassava sprouts afresh from its base! So from the time it is planted until the harvest, cassava is relatively labor-free.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

THE ROLE OF CO-OPERATIVE SECTOR IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

A. THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IS A GREAT ADHERENT TO THES3 CHERISHED UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES. FOR, DUE TO THE NATURE OF CO-OPEREATION, IT PROVIDES THE AVENUE FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, SERVICE TO OTHERS AND SELF-HELP IN THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY...

WHEN CO-OPERATIVES ARE ENCOURAGED AND EFFICIENTLY OPERATED, THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF MOST OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR MEMBERS/PATRONS-DONORS AND IN THE PROCESS, COULD EVEN TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. TYHERE ARE PRODUCTIVE CO-OPERTATIVE IN ALL THE BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE (Crops, live stocks, fisheries, forestry), the inputs supply and distribution, the marketing of agricultural produce and other essential commodities. The all important financial needs of large numbers of small scale producers and non agricultural small-scale industrial sectors are easily provided through co-operative thrift and credit operations. The co-operative movement presents one of the most potent means of capital accumulation through saving by members.

b. Co-operative Society therefore play a pivotal role in the task of nation building and general development. Hence, given the required assistance, in order to help the small scale producers in the society, and to help build the economic activities of our country and our members country. Co-operators need to be empowered through an effective co-operative policy that creates an enabling environment for them to operate profitably.

c. The vision for Nigerian Co-operative sector is to promote the members entrepreneurial capacities so that they can generate adequate surpluses for themselves and create opportunities for economic progress for the public. In this way, greater employment opportunities and improving the general welfare of Nigerians and other partner countries.



Monday, May 24, 2010

The Hurdles We Face;

A group has been formed and certified by the government to operate freely in the State and the Nation. What is next now is to manage both the office and the people. But this is not an easy task for the executives of this great association. Despite the fact that the body was not having any money after spending much for the inauguration, to now assist people coming to request for loan from this Society, yet the executives need to be bold enough to face the circumstance. Although at this time the Society was not having enough to meet the need of the people, still the onlooker were still interested in becoming member of the group. Because of the focus and determination visible among its members.




Under the instigation of the then president who did not want to work within the rules and regulation of the body, he decided to take others along with him in his rebel. This led to the abandoning of the Society’s meetings.

Who were now left as members of the Gofta group?

The only members left, becomes the founder/initiator with his family. These only now make up the Gofta multi-purpose co-operative Society limited. Fortunately for Gofta, the deadly seal of draw back was broken by Jehovah whose name the Society make to be a basic part of it; as new members started to Troup in even some among the old members who acted in ignorance also came back to pay their outstanding dues and continue as member of the Gofta world groups limited.

Preparing Your Own Compost

First of all, forget about those untidy heaps of garden refuse, where you used to dump, year after year, all the leaves, grass clippings, straw, old hay, and weeds and which were likely to sprawl out of control. When kitchen debris was added to such a heap, an obnoxious odor used to be unavoidable, as any gardening sage well knows. To solve this problem, you need a proper compost bin. The idea is to produce in your garden the amazing natural process described above. It is the same process that recycles dead organic matter that accumulates on every forest floor, and it has been going on for thousands of years. As usual, God did it first, when he created green land plants that eventually died and initiated the composting process to recycle the needed chemicals for reuse


A bin is preferable for composting, since it holds the material together and allows for better ventilation, which increases the efficiency of the decomposition process. Gaps or holes should be made in the sides of the bin to allow entry of the oxygen needed for the bacteria. Also, the dampness should be controlled. The bin should be elevated from the ground, and the right location chosen. The composting process does not work well if exposed all day to the full force of the sun, yet neither does it thrive in total shade.

The composting mixture itself may be thought of as a many-tiered sandwich: one layer of garden debris, one layer of soil, one layer of household waste, with this composition repeated until you have a pile some four or five feet [1.2 to 1.5 m] high. Finally, the completed stack might be covered with sod or similar material.

After two years you will have very good humus and the gardener’s best friends—lots of earthworms. They will work tirelessly to break up and oxygenate the topsoil of your garden. The composting process can be accelerated by turning the pile over every once in a while or by adding products to hasten decay, such as small quantities of manure. With a properly constructed bin and the right mixture of materials, the decomposition process can be speeded up until the compost is ready for use after only three or four months instead of two years.

And remember, the compost needs to breathe, so adequate ventilation, with the right humidity, will reduce the mixture to the mulch so delectable to your plants. When you spread it on the topsoil, the table is set, and the feast for your flowers and vegetables can begin. Give your garden such a treat, and it will reward you with a bountiful harvest of beauty for your eyes and taste delights for your palate.

Types of recycling appreciated

The worm’s remarkable recycling powers are being harnessed by the waste-disposal industries. One company in Australia makes use of a total of 500 million worms in several waste-processing plants. The worms are housed in specially designed beds and are served a menu of either pig manure or human waste mixed with shredded wastepaper and other organic matter. These worms consume between 50 and 100 percent of their own body weight each day and produce a nutrient-rich plant food that is marketed widely.


Studies have revealed another possible use for worms—as a source of food. Worms contain the same beneficial amino acids as beef. On a dry weight basis, they are packed with 60 percent protein and 10 percent fat and contain calcium and phosphorus. Already, in some lands, people eat earthworm pies. In other parts of the world, they fry earthworms and even eat them raw.

While worms may never become the most popular animals in the world, the world would certainly be a different place without them. So the next time you admire a tranquil country scene, spare a thought for the army of earthworms that are beneath your feet, busily plowing, fertilizing, and maintaining that beautiful view.

Preparing the soil for planting

Natural Farming Encouraged


“ The National Academy of Sciences has found that farmers who apply little or no chemicals to crops can be as productive as those who use pesticides and synthetic fertilizers,” reports The New York Times. “The study by the nation’s pre-eminent body of scientists is perhaps the most important confirmation of the success of agricultural practices that use biological interactions instead of chemicals.” Until recently, farmers had been taught to use generous amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce the largest output of crops, and natural farming methods were considered inferior. But as insects and weeds developed resistance to the chemicals, farmers made greater use of chemicals, thereby increasing the danger to human health. The study showed that by rotating crops and by using a diversified crop and livestock system, farmers were often able to increase their yields and reduce costs, as well as preserve the environment. However, the natural practices did take more work.

GOFTA QUALITY

Gofta has intelligent and prosperous farmers to her credit. When the issue of farming is discussed, Gofta must be mentioned.


The need for Gofta farmers to promote the development of the green gold (Cassava) was born out of the sentiment they have for their brothers and sisters who cannot get this product with ease.

The financial profit this group will make from the produce derived from their farm is not their basic concern, rather; their basic interest is to do their best to make many people go into the cultivation of the crop and also to do their best to meet up with the requirement of the people. Therefore, we request government at various levels to do their utmost to assist the Gofta group to succeed in their determination to make food available to many.

Apart from the government, gofta farms management also want to use this medium to advice all groups, organizations or individuals both at home and abroad to see that their interest in this matter, count. Therefore, they should support this move embarked upon by Gofta world groups to do her best in making food available for all. Mostly now that the world is experiencing “global food shortage”.

It has become imperatively clear that only the Agricultural sector of any economy can keep all nations standing.