EP 49 | Himani Chandel: Indo-Africa Talk: Agriculture & Development - Perspectives & Restructuring Ties to Prevailing Needs & Geopolitics

EP 49 | Himani Chandel: Indo-Africa Talk: Agriculture & Development - Perspectives & Restructuring Ties to Prevailing Needs & Geopolitics

📣 Last 3yrs when India halted the export of its rice 🌾 the ripple was felt in Africa 🌍 and in Nigeria . This year, fertilizer production disruption in the country had similar effects. India is an agriculture powerhouse supplying important inputs for Africa’s food production and security. The country attained record grain 357.73 million metric tons (MMT) and horticulture output of 362.08 MMT, becoming world’s 2nd largest producer of rice and wheat. 💰India and Africa conduct a yearly trade of over $100 billion and is projected to double by 2030. She is Africa’s 4th largest trading partner. And Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa. 🛢️Oil and gas, minerals, machineries and automobiles, etc form huge proportion of the trade. But food and agricultural exports also constitutes 10% of the trade. ⚡️African countries are deepening energy and infrastructural investment -from Nigeria, to Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, etc. India, dependent on global market for 85% of its crude oil needs was rocked with the recent Middle East supply chains disruptions. ⛽️ The country has daily 5.6 million barrels per day and 192 million standard cubic meters per day crude oil and natural gas. It represents an exciting opportunity. 🚜 We looked at this but also more of agricultural trade -increasing africa’s (and Nigeria’s) export beyond 35% and deficit and to include value added products. 🤝 We also on touched on areas, commonalities, and share perspectives, lessons, and knowledge that improve relationship and trade. 🏦 India does $51 billion annual agricultural exports and with $15 billion trade surplus, and powers by technology and digital inclusion. We perused what Nigeria and other African countries can learn from this, how can they better leverage technology to improve domestic food production and security, and tap into enticing export markets, for instance India’s import bills of vegetable oils, pulses and fruits. 🧑🏾‍🌾 As there’s dramatical shift to sustainable and urban farming, clean energy and transportation techs across Africa but input still imported but local potential, how can domestic capacity improve with India’s developed capacity in biogas and planting materials from agricultural wastes. 🎙️This discourse was held with a rising Chevening Scholar, Himani Chandel experienced with development, communication, and multiple markets. Himani is a strategic communications professional and a former journalist with over 15 years of experience across media, social development sector, and public policy. She holds a Master's in Communication for Innovation and Development from the University of Reading and has worked with leading organisations in India including Plan International, Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, founded by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and Press Trust of India, India's leading news agency. Chandel with this rich experience, lived-reality, exposure, as well as growing up in a family with deep roots in agriculture, shared reflections to strengthen Nigeria and India relationships.

Edutainment EP 03: Kitchen Drama (OluwaKemi & Oyindamola)

This is third episode of the edutainment series of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast. This particular drama was written by Toheeb Azeez (The Lasgidi Farmer and the founder and host of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast) in 2017 and published the same year, on Facebook on his personal page. It later was voice-acted with Maryam Giwa in May 2026 and published in June 15, 2026. Voice actors: Maryam Giwa: Oluwakemi Toheeb Azeez: Oyindamola Summary The dialogue presents a domestic interaction centered around health, diet, lifestyle, and relationship dynamics between a couple. The conversation weaves humor, concern, and a focus on mutual support, reflecting on personal habits and shared goals regarding well-being. * Domestic Partnership and Support: * The wife expresses a wish for the husband to assist her regularly in the kitchen, highlighting appreciation for his calm and helpful demeanor. * The husband emphasizes the desire for an “even marriage” where he might take the lead in cooking, particularly when he begins working with the Food and Agricultural Organization, but which challenges traditional and social norms. * Health and Nutrition Concerns: * The husband critiques the use of bad oil, describing it as “rancid oil” that becomes blackened and thick from repeated use. * He explains scientifically that such oil generates free radicals, which can suppress the immune system and accelerate aging. * The husband highlights the potential dangers of consuming bad or hydrogenated oils, distinguishing between different types of oil and their health impacts. * Concerns are raised about personal health effects, as the husband mentions his six-pack abs deteriorating since moving in. * Scientific and Lifestyle Exchange: * The couple jokes and argues scientifically about the qualities of cooking oil, indicating mutual engagement on health matters. * The wife also remarks on personal care related to hair loss, humorously questioning why the husband hasn’t used Finasteride or Minoxidil to combat DHT (dihydrotestosterone) effects. * The wife dismissively replies, saying she prefers her husband fit and bald, linking strength with natural appearance. * Shared Goals for Fitness and Routine: * Both agree to start registering at the local gym to maintain physical fitness, emphasizing that they have each other "for long," suggesting longevity in their relationship. * The husband asks for a food timetable covering various food categories, underscoring the importance of diet variety. * Financial and Relationship Trust Issues: * The wife mentions that money for foodstuffs must increase to accommodate new lifestyle changes. * There are references to past difficulties involving fines due to the husband’s inattentiveness while driving and suspicions of infidelity, revealing some mistrust. * The dialogue about football teams (Arsenal and Chelsea) is metaphorical, used humorously to critique each other’s preferences and attitudes. * Household and External Context: * Complaints from neighbors about noise ("royal rumble") imply a noisy lifestyle, highlighting external pressures. * The smoke detector going off toward the conversation’s end introduces a note of unresolved tension and domestic unpredictability. Major Conclusions * Mutual respect and scientific dialogue between partners contribute positively to their relationship, especially around health and dietary choices. * Traditional norm challenge exposing to the clash with modern norms and push toward equality in marriage. * Health concerns related to poor-quality cooking oils are a significant point of contention, indicating awareness of nutrition's impact on wellness. * Commitment to joint fitness activities and improved diet signal a shared dedication to long-term well-being. * Despite moments of light-hearted teasing, underlying trust and financial challenges need ongoing navigation. * External factors such as neighbors’ complaints and household hazards (smoke detector) inject realism into their domestic life. #Edutainment #MarriageWahala #HealthEducation #HouseholdDrama #RelationshipRealTalk

EP 47 | Dr. Michelle Perro: GMOs & Biosecurity - Building Africa's Food Sovereignty

This discourse was about GMOs, biosecurity, food sovereignty -lessons from Northern America to adapt for Africa food sovereignty, with the continent's food insecurity situation and weak regulation, and how unregulated/dangerous synthetic chemicals (pesticides/herbicides) and food manipulation procedures could have disastrous effects. The guest Dr. Michelle Perro, is a veteran pediatrician with over 40 years' experience in acute and integrative medicine, focusing on environmental health, pesticides, and GMO advocacy, and children wellness. She has extensively lectured on these both locally and globally. She authored the books "Making our Children Well" and "What's Making Our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness, and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do about It". Based in Northern California, she runs Down to Earth Pediatrics and serves as Executive Director of @gmoscience (https://gmoscience.org/) [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG5Xc20zN0JMUkx5UVBsWU5oZy1VQXRpalFtZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuZzg4azFvMGRfaDNTRVNjZHhDaGxxcFoxQ1hvX01ER3VucU1zU255dXI0UDIwX2N0amZ4WEJ6M3AyMFIwOHhGUlIzM3c4cDl2NEd3bFBRRUNUM0tmR0stUGJDVXFMNk4yd0F0dnpDWXhnVktVa1E4dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgmoscience.org%2F%29&v=a1PGGsNKjKs], focusing on restoring children’s health through food and reducing toxic exposures. We discussed the current food issues in N/America (the United States in particular), increasing disorders/diseases correlated with GMOs and associated chemicals, and the biosecurity/regulation of the food system. It was discussed vis-a-vis Africa's prevailing realities and Dr. Perro's books/works and about Africa, to advise on actionable ways to strengthen Africa's food system for safer, healthier and rich foods. The conversation had special focus on children and African children in particular. 👶Fetuses and infants have developing immune system and dependent on their mothers -connected by placenta and breast-feeding. There’s been reports of pesticides found in breast milk and milk formulas 🧑‍🍼. The chemicals have also been reported to cross blood-brain barrier in developing fetuses. 🦠Gut microbiome play a huge role in the developing immune system of foetuses and infants. However, pesticides, for instance glyphosate, has been shown to have antibiotic effects. Thus, capable of eradicating good microbes in the gut and promoting harmful microbes, leading to microbial imbalance and toxic actions. 🚨Also, when genetically modified microbes (GMMs) are passed on to foetuses and infants from their mothers, horizontal gene transfer can occur between the introduced microbes that may carry resistant genes and and those in the little beings. ‼️This all could pose risk and possibly lead to immune dysregulation and resistance to medications. The presence of these xenobiotics have been correlated to rise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic diseases, esp in children. 🧑‍🍼Children interact more with the environment, have broader surface area, and with increased temperature and attending perspiration promote increased absorption of sprayed pesticides accelerated by hot climate of the tropics, this make African and Nigerian children at particular risk. Dr Michelle talked about what found researching GMOs and pesticides in Nigeria -GMOs adopted and commercialized, flooding the market unlabeled without proper verification of safety based on long-term and balanced study of safety, toxic agrochemicals (toxic at low conc) still sold in the market despite being banned, and also the international great lobby and local actors shoving down these food instruments in Nigeria. The full conversation features many important topics: ✅ Broader definition of GMMs that’s often hidden and the potential risks ✅ Explanation on how modified microbes and pesticides could pose risks to children ✅ Alleged GMO Ginger and Nigeria export woe ✅ New threat -Glyphosate-Aluminium-Fluoride complex ✅ Pesticides & GMOs and Africa's food security #DrMichellePerro #GMOScience #TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast #AfricaGMOs #GutHealth #Transgene #Microbiome #InfantHealth #SoilHealth #FoodTechnology #GeneticEngineering #GeneticallyModifiedMicrobes #NigerianChildren #AfricanChildren #FoodSovereignty

EP 44 | Kenechukwu Anoliefo: African Fish Farming - Bridging the Tech Gap

In this eye-opening episode of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most promising yet underdeveloped sectors in African agriculture — fish farming (aquaculture). Despite Nigeria’s huge potential to become a major fish producer, the sector continues to struggle with low yields, high costs, disease outbreaks, and inefficient practices. A major reason? Extremely slow adoption of technology. Joined by Kenechukwu Anoliefo, CTO of aquaSense+, we explore the real reasons why technology is still missing in most fish farms across Nigeria and Africa. From daily operational challenges faced by small and medium-scale farmers to the practical innovations that can transform the industry, this conversation uncovers both the hard truths and the hopeful pathways forward. We discuss: * Why fish farmers are still heavily dependent on manual methods * The biggest barriers to technology adoption (beyond just cost) * What “farmer-friendly” technology should look like in rural Africa * Practical solutions that actually work on the ground * The role of policy, investors, and farmers themselves in scaling innovation * Honest lessons from building tech solutions for aquaculture Whether you’re a fish farmer, agribusiness professional, policymaker, investor, or someone passionate about African agriculture and food security, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable ideas. Guest: Kenechukwu Anoliefo – CTO, aquaSense+Listen now and share with every fish farmer and ag enthusiast you know! Follow The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast for more insightful conversations on African agriculture, agritech, and food systems. #FishFarming #Aquaculture #Agritech #NigerianAgriculture #AfricanAgriculture #FoodSecurity #AgriTechNigeria #Nigeria#1AgriculturePodcast #aquasense+ #KenechukwuAnoliefo

EP 46: Genetics & Technology for Better Fish Breeding in Nigeria - Insights from Nofima

Genetics and Technology for Better Fish Breeding in Nigeria – Insights from Nofima In this insightful episode, we sit down with two leading experts from Nofima, one of the world’s top aquaculture research institutes in Norway: * Dr. Anna Kristina Sonesson – Research Director in Genetics and Breeding * Marie Lillehammer – Senior Researcher specializing in breeding program optimization We explore how advanced genetics and breeding technologies can be practically applied to improve catfish farming in Nigeria. Topics include: * Why genetics is critical for successful fish farming * The hidden impact of inbreeding depression on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) * Practical tools and methods small-to-medium hatcheries can use * How to balance local genetic diversity with improved strains * Capacity building and advice for young Nigerians in aquaculture Whether you’re a catfish farmer, hatchery owner, student, or aquaculture stakeholder, this episode offers valuable, actionable insights to help you produce stronger, healthier fish and improve your farm’s productivity. #CatfishFarming #AquacultureNigeria #FishBreeding #GeneticsinAquaculture #BetterCatfishBreedNG #CatfishInbreeding #CatfishHatchery #AgriculturePodcast #TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast #Nofima #AnnaSonesson #MarieLillehammer #Norway #Nigeria #ImproveFishBreed #AquacultureInnovation