Minister, ARCN say research findings are not on shelves, commend animal college on food security

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Nanono in agreement with the Executive Secretary (ES), Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Prof.  Garba Sharubutu have both disagreed with the general assumption of many research findings that are said to be on the shelves of research Institutes, just as they commended the  Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology for its contribution to food security through generation of  skilful manpower into animal and livestock value chains productivity since inception about 57 years.   

Alhaji Nanono and Prof. Sharabatu took this hard stance during their presentations at the just concluded first ever founder’s day celebration of the animal college held at the Dr. K.J Nwufoh Hall of the Institute’s premises in Moorplantation, Ibadan on April 1, 2021.

The minister who was ably represented by the South West Director (SWD) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( FMARD), Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi stressed the need for effective utilization of the research findings  from our research Institutes through best agronomics practices by  our farmers and other end users as rightly pointed out by the ES of the ARCN, saying it would be out of place to say our improved technologies are on shelves in view of many available research findings in the hands of our farmers towards commercial foods productivity.

He commended the effort of the college for being able to generate thousands of middle level man power agricultural experts in the field of animal and livestock value chains towards the fulfillment of the FMARD’s mandate on ensuring food security and sustainable productivity, added that the college in view of many of its challenges has been a very supportive co partner to the Federal Government (FG) in her vision to use agriculture to create wealth and job opportunities for Nigerians.

Nanono through his representative emphasized the need for more training of farmers towards best application of improved technologies  for high productivity, stressed that the research Institutes’ findings have been very impactful in checkmating many diseases that would have devastated many agricultural produce with  an example of tomato ebola popularly known as Tuta absoluta disease as one of the intervention National Horticultural Research Institute ( NIHORT)) averted in Kano and many other places till date since its first outbreak.

The minister said that ‘’ I am glad to say that the Federal College of Animal, Ibadan has been a co partner in the achievement of the goal of FMARD in ensuring food security and wealth creation. The graduates of this college have been modeled to be self independent even before leaving the college in the field of agricpreneurship as they engaged in the field of practical farming which is evident in some of the agricultural produce the college is already producing into the market for consumption by the students as practical skills’’

He added that the ministry is very much aware of all the achievements of the college as being mentioned by the able provost, but stressed the need for the institute to do more for greater heights as the ministry would be ready to give support to mitigate challenges whenever such request is presented.

The ES ARCN, Prof. Garba Sharubutu who  was the first to challenge the popular position on research findings being kept on the shelves of Research Institutes,  posited that the statement cannot be true, but rather the technologies are in the hands of farmers who did not have sufficient agronomics capacity to optimally utilize them for maximum productivity, adding that there would not have been organizations like National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACRAB), National agricultural Seed Council ( NASC) and National Committee on Varietal release if there had not been any new released technologies.

Prof. Sharubutu who commended the college’ achievements under the leadership of Dr. Adekoya Owosibo pointed that it would be a misplaced of statement to agree with the popular adage of research findings being kept on the shelves when considering the restless activities of the colleges of agriculture and animals science in producing middle level man power in food value chains system cum our research institutes that have worked tirelessly to ensure availability of new improved technologies to enhance sustainable food system in Nigeria.

ARCN boss said that  ‘’ it is going to be a shame for us to say we have research Institutes and associated colleges that are responsible for training human and extension workers, and yet accept the mis-representation that research findings are on shelves. No they are not on shelves, they are with the farmers, and that is because of the work of those of us in the research institutes and colleges of agriculture and animal science. Go to Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T) and see the type of work it has done that are never on the shelf. If they are on the shelf, then there will be no need for NAGRAB, NASC and no need for varietal release. We have all these organizations and we are saying they are not doing anything. No they are doing something. What we lack is the capacity of the person working outside as off takers on these findings through seeds multiplication. Our research findings are there, people have heard about new varieties of maize, release of feeds for animals, rice and tomatoes. If the product of that research by NIHORT was on shelf, the problem of Tuta absoluta will still be there till date’’

In his address, the Provost/ Chief Executive (ED) of the college, Dr. Owosibo said that the school was established in 1^st April 1964 to meet the need for livestock assistants in order to cope with the ever increasing demand for assistance in the practices of veterinary profession, added that the college is an integral part of IAR&T with power to run about 14 programmes both on National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) as allowed by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Dr. Owosibo pointed that the founder’s day was to create more awareness about the college and to reward  some of the alumni  that have excelled in the practice of animals and livestock  agric-preneur value chains system of sustainable food productivity and job creation, saying over 6,000 have graduated from the college since inception.

He said ‘‘many of such graduates are self- employed while some are in the government owned agencies. Some have proceeded further in academics and have even become professors. The products of the college stand the chance of mitigating gaps in extension workers to achieve FMARD vision of national food security’’ adding that the ‘‘college operates livestock farm like poultry , rearing of cattle, sheep, goat and rabbit among others for students’ practical purposes. Also the college runs a veterinary clinic and diagnostic laboratory for analyzing samples from sick animals’’

Both speakers who spoke on different theme ‘‘Nigeria: Food Security, internal security and feedlot system’’ and ‘‘Improving Livestock Productivity and Health in Post pandemic era’’ emphasized extensively on the potential of a secured environment for sustainable food system with emphasis for proactive steps towards competitive agricultural productivity.

The Registrar/ CEO, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) Prof. Eustace Iyayi in his  keynote paper tilled ‘’ Nigeria: Food Security, Internal Security and Feedlot system’’ described Nigerian food system as inadequate to people in term of availability, accessibility, and affordability, saying this was also the position taken by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nation (UN).

Prof. Iyayi stated further that the food insecurity has worsened by the activities of banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen/ farmers’ conflict thereby increasing human displacement from the source of their livelihood and creation of more increased poverty in the country especially in the North East, as he pointed that 65% of northerner have migrated to the south because of insecured environment.

NIAS Registrar in his conclusion and commendation for solution stated the following

1.       A step up of intervention by the security agencies to put the insurgency in the North east and banditry and the kidnapping in the North Central and North West to an end.

2.       Immediate conversion of the gazette grazing reserves (145 of them out of the 405 grazing reserve) mostly in the North with only 2 in the south (Oyo state) into ranches.

3.       Immediate resuscitation of the Mokwa and other ranches set up in the first republic in the south west beef or milk production.

4.       Development of a commercial pasture production value chain.

5.       Resuscitation of the livestock breeding centers’ by the FMARD.

6.       A special reserve fund out of the recently approved Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) by the senate.

7.       Engagement of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science as experts in the revitalization of our livestock sector, especially in ranching, community animal husbandry services, feed development research and production.

Also, Prof. Oyewole Olufemi in his paper titled ‘‘Improving livestock productivity and Health in a post pandemic era’’ pointed that 65% of global economic decline has been attributed to the Covid 19 disease with 41% drop in world export, and 60% drop in demand/ supply, pointed that the consequences of imbalanced agricultural production system are inadequate foods supply, increasing hunger and malnutrition.

Prof. Olufemi hinted that 115 million Nigerians live below poverty level of $2:00 per day, thereby making the figure increase from 87 million people as a result of covid-19, adding that the World Food Programm (WFP) has predicted that COVID 19 would cause pervasive poverty, poor healthcare infrastructure, lack of robust social safety nets, acute hunger, breaking food supply chains, lowering food prices and importantly recession in the economy.  

He gave the following as ways to improve live stock productivity

1.       * Ensure that support measures intended to provide temporary relief to farmers and other food system stakeholders are consistent with wider socio- economic groups and contain clear exit strategies

2.       * Consider wider opportunities to repurpose agricultural support in ways that provide clear public goods, in particular in the form of climate change mitigation and improved environmental outcomes.

3.       * Secure and build on positive trade facilitation steps that have been taken to reduce distortion at the border to reinforce the role that global markets can play in ensuring secured and stable food supplies.

4.       * Continued effort to build and maintain mechanisms to ensure transparency and policy dialogue on food systems, such as Agricultural marketing information system (AMIS), to build confidence in global market and cooperation.

5.       In moving forward, consider how adopting an integrated approach can help ensure the resilience of the global food system. With enhanced resilience the food system will be better able to deliver on the triple challenge: providing safe, affordable food for a growing world population and livelihoods for the many people involved in food around the world (including the majority of the world’s poor who live in rural areas), while ensuring environmental sustainability in the face of complex environment challenges and climate emergency.

6.       Concluding, epidemics and pandemics constitute major problems in livestock production. The emergence and re- emergence of these pathogens have constituted hindrances to livestock industry with attendant loss. In most countries including the developed countries, there has not been any preparation in anticipation of pandemicity. However, mass slaughter of livestock in an attempt to control disease spread has usually been useful even expensive. Vaccination, improved livestock breeds and resilience in productivity and adoption in integrated can help in overcoming the huge loss in livestock production.