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*Scientists
decry poor OFAR, TRM performance, hail
Ekiti, Lagos, ask for funding
The just concluded 30th annual event of South
West, Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS) with the theme “
Diversification and Sustainability of Agricultural Production: the role of
mechanization” that took place at Institute for Agricultural Research and Training
(IAR&T), Ibadan had in attendance royal fathers, farmers, scientists,
researchers, academia and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) at the input
value chains who all out-rightly frowned at the governors and rich people in
the zone for not investing in
agricultural development with reference to research and technologies transfer
that may result in shortages just as scientists have described the last and
previous years (On- Farm Adaptive Research) OFAR and (Technology Review Meetings) TRM at
all the states in the region as being very poor with the exception of Lagos and
Ekiti states.
They thus asked for more
funding to enrich commercial agriculture with improved technology.
REFILS workshop annually organized by IAR&T is held to
consider report of all research and extension activities in the zone for the
preview year where feedback on technologies disseminated to farmers for OFAR
trials by the ADPs for the formulation of appropriate extension messages just
as Research Institutes are also afforded the opportunity of showcasing their
new technologies to farmers and other stakeholders who were present.
Both the representatives of the traditional rulers, Ooni of
Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Adetunji were
very passionate about the deplorable state of agricultural development in the
South West saying the lip service of the governors to the sector’s development
was what is playing out in research and technologies transfer to farmers in the
region thereby called for caution in order to save the food insecurity
situation in all the states in the region.
The Ooni speaking through his representative, the Alara
Oodaye of Araland, Oba Adebisi Layade, advised that the opportunities in
research works and agriculture must be revived like is done in the Northern
states, stating that “we need to talk to ourselves to be more proactive. The
beans, pepper, tomato we are eating are from the North. Even the cattle they
are using to disturb us are from the North. What do we have? We have agriculture
and research here. Do not let them die. Let us beg our billionaires to support
agriculture and research. In developed countries, the government support
research, but this is what is lacking in our country”
Also, the Olubadan of Ibadan’s representative, Oba Adetunji
pointed out that government must encourage the youths into the real sector
activities through farming inputs and agriculturally motivated incentives with
research development, rather than engaging them in cycling business saying “you
said that graduates are commercial motorcycling. This is because there is no
love.
They should stop buying motorcycles for our youths. Tell them to stop.
Our Government needs to support agriculture and research. All state governments
need to stand up to develop agriculture .You need to meet traditional rulers
and government to ensure that things are better. If you go to the North, they
are helping themselves. It is bad that Yoruba do not help themselves. Those you
send to Abuja as representatives, most of them are looking for money to fill
their pockets”
The report from states ADPs was nothing better as lack of
fund was alleged for the non-performance of extension officers in this zone
thereby denying farmers the accessibility of new improved technologies that are
made available by the Research Institutes to full capacity with only |Ekiti
and Lagos states being exonerated from this nonperformance.
All the scientists at the meeting frowned at the poor
performance of the states in the zone to ensure Monthly TRM and OFAR with the
exception of Ekiti and Lagos that both received stakeholders’ commendation
which was championed by the IAR&T Executive Director (ED) Prof. J.A
Adediran.
In his opening address, Adediran commended both states for
their performances in the area of support to MTRM and OFAR respectively saying
the paucity of fund cum lack of support from the states’ ADP had hindered the
event from taking place around February.
Adediran who enumerated on the achievement the Institute had
recorded towards agricultural development in terms of improved technologies,
wanted all the states’ Governments in the region to assist in the REFILs
activities towards assisting Federal Government policy on food security through
adequate transferring of new improved technologies from IAR&T and other
NARIs to farmers and other processors in the sector.
He said: “some of the newly generated technologies which
have been developed and perfected by this Institute in the last few years are
available for farmers’ use. Also, proven technologies from other collaborating
NARIs have been transferred to extension agents of the ADPs in our various
states through the Monthly TRM. I will like to encourage all the states in the
South West to support the policy of the Federal Government and REFILS
activities in their respective states. Please note that we will still need your
assistance in paying all the counterpart funds as stipulated. Again, some
states rarely or do not hold at all their monthly technology review meeting. At
this juncture, let me congratulate Ekiti state ADP for not missing MTRMs once
throughout the year under review. I will also like to emphasis the importance
of the OFAR trials”
He continued:“ It was reported that some state ADPs could
not carry out any OFAR trials as result of paucity of fund. Again it is my
delight that Lagos state ADP is adjudged the best during the year under review
as all OFAR trails approved for them were carried out successfully. I will like
to call the attention of all the Chief Executives Officers of the states
concerned to looked critically into problem facing REFILs and approve funds for
the execution of relevant projects”
In the keynote address delivered by a former Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (FMARD) Engr. Oladehinde Abiodun, entitled “ Diversification
and Sustainability of Agricultural Production: the role of Mechanization” he
identified policy summersault, lip service in term of political subsidy,
importation of dead equipment and faulty machines, lack of incentives for the
tractor/ equipment operators and poor
land clearing among others as serious challenges to agricultural development
adding that government must be ready to support fabricators and manufacturers
as part of solution to remedy all the challenges.
He recommended the need for government to impose ban of all
those equipment and tools that Nigerians have capability to fabricate or
produce saying that fabricators must be properly trained with loan support.
The statements made by the representative of the Minister of
Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and acting Executive Secretary, National
Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Prof.
Ambrose Voh were handy to
the growth of the sector especially with new agricultural policy of the Federal
Government and the need to ensure a better linkage between the research and
extension officers for the benefit of best agronomics practices by the farmers.
1.
Development of adaptable cropping system for
increased productivity under intensive soil resources for cassava and maize
based cropping systems.
2.
Successful incorporation of soybean into the
farming systems of rainforest South West Nigeria for increased protein intake
among resource poor farming households.
3.
Inclusion and development of organic fertilizer
technology for increased land productivity in cassava based cropping systems
using readily available materials.
4.
Development of farmers’ guide on different
crops, livestock production and processing technologies for rapid dissemination
to farmers at low cost.
5.
Eradication of downy mildew and folia diseases
of maize in SWN.
6.
Dissemination and training on the use of
improved technologies.
7.
Conduct of adoption and impact assessment.
8.
Control of army worm pest infestation maize
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