Researchers, Investors Support Oyo’s Agric Rebirth Initiative

Dr. Nteranya Sanginga

Top officials of agriculture research institutes, finance institutions, agro-allied business investors and other stakeholders have expressed their readiness to support the Oyo State government agricultural initiative programme.


The programme was aimed at diversifying the state economy towards improving her financial status.
The officials had converged in Ibadan, the state capital for  the second consultative assembly organized by Oyo State government to brainstorm on the revival of its agriculture potential as alternative source of revenue.

It was an opportunity for corporate investors, agro-input companies, banks, agricultural technology fabricators, commodity associations, agriculture research institutes, federal agriculture and development agencies and potential investors in the agriculture value chain to offer ideas on how to chart a new path for the sector in the state.

Speaking, the director general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),  Dr. Nteranya Sanginga said it was lamentable that young people were no longer interested in farming due to the hostile environment.

As a researcher in one of the farms in the state, he said he discovered that majority of those engaging in farming nowadays were old people and children, which he said portended danger for the future of farming in the country.

He pledged the commitment and support of IITA for the agriculture initiative of the state, which he said had the wherewithal to feed the.country comfortably.

“As a researcher I discovered that only old people and children are left in the farm, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa. I’m afraid of what will happen to agric in the next ten years if this trend continues.

“Young graduates come to IITA every Friday of the month to be engaged as casual labourers and you will be shocked to know that some of them are graduates of reputable institutions. We only pay an equivalent of $3 per day and they still besiege us.

“We had to change their mindsets and give them fresh orientation. Today, some of them have embraced agriculture. I’m proud to present to you today a female lawyer and a male economist among the beneficiaries of this initiative who are today doing very well,” he said.