Osun state and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has partnered to launch a research and training farm institute at Ago Owu area in Ayedaade Local Government Area of the state as part of the Osun’s commitment to transform agriculture sector in the state.
In 2015, Governor Rauf Aregbesola donated a piece of land measuring about 205.5 hectares to IITA as he sought to bring research closer to the people of the state with a view to creating transformational change in the agricultural sector of the state.
During the launch of the institute, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, in a statement made available to BusinessDay, attributed the success of the scheme to unflinching support which the state received from the officials of the IITA to boost agricultural productions.
He said the institution has the capacity to train, retrain and conduct various researches that would not only increase farmers’ yields but also expose them to modern agriculture practices.
Governor Aregbesola said the idea was nurtured in a bid to support the existing farmers and encourage young ones into farming, saying with the scheme, a new era has begun in the agriculture sector in the state.
Aregbesola said the scheme was part of his administration’s six-point integral action plan to increase on the agricultural produce, improve the welfare of farmers and turn Osun to food basket of the southwest Nigeria.
According to him, the idea behind the establishment of the institute is to advance research in agriculture sector in line with the state’s commitment to agribusiness and commercialisation.
“We must thank the IITA for the partnership we have because with the establishment of this training institute, our partnership is not just a memorandum on paper but rather a memorandum actualised.
“IITA has been an open partner with Osun government and the partnership was formalised in 2015 after a Memorandum of Understanding was mutually signed to support agriculture sector in the state.
“This MoU has been actualised with the research and training institute set up to advance research in agriculture, encourage participation in farming and as well improve on the agricultural productivity in the state.
“This initiative aimed at improving on the agricultural agenda of the state, getting youths attracted to farming, exposing farmers to modern and mechanised farming techniques and as well increase agricultural productivity”, Aregbesola said.
Also speaking during the launch, Michael Abberton, deputy director general, IITA, said IITA partnered Osun government having realised the keen interest of the state to revamp agriculture sector.
He described the state’s commitment to agriculture revolution as remarkable; a step he said would be advanced by the IITA to ensure the actualisation of the state dreams in the agriculture sector.
Abberton said the partnership was important as it reflects the role the farm will play not only in terms of research addressing the needs of smallholder farmers but also in terms of training and capacity building.
Josephine Okojie
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