Cassava Growers, Abuja University partner on 1,000 hectares

 Cassava Growers, Abuja University partner on 1,000 hectares 

An Agric partnership deal last Monday was struck between the National Cassava Growers Association ( NCGA) and management, University of Abuja to cultivate 1000 hectares of improved cassava crop using students for commercial production to enhance economic earnings and food security.  

The business collaboration according to the President of NCGA, Mr. Mustapha Othman was in line with the Association's social responsibility on Agricbusiness to tertiary institutions towards awakening intern participation of students in practical Agriculture using improved technologies to enhance food productivity for economic earning while still in school.

Othman said that about 12,500 improved cassava stems are expected to be planted in the University of Abuja allocated land with students participation as about 45 metric tons per hectare is expected to be realized, saying that the relationship was going to serve as a litmus test for other tertiary institutions.

The NCGA president said that the Association is determined to partner with more other higher institutions across the country as quickly as they are ready to get more youths into practical farming while still in school.

Responding to the partnership, the University of Abuja led management, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi commended the new relationship saying the partnership  would further expose students to Agric business and other economic earnings along the value chains of the sector.

Maikudi added that the importance her Institute attached to Agriculture towards food security has necessitated a positive disposition to the partnership as they are ready for many others towards students' capacity building towards job creation.

Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Abuja, Prof. Akeem Oyerinde buttressing the position of his university acting Vice Chancellor said that the partnership initiative is timely to attend to the food security needs in the country, adding that a proactive nation must produce to feed herself.

Prof. Ojerinde pointed out that the partnership with the NCGA would galvanize the University to produce more competitive crops that will meet global standards, and thereby creating wealth and employment among students that would have been exposed to modern Agricutural practices along various crops including cassava.