OAU distributes 800,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers in Osun, Oyo
OAU distributes 800,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers in Osun, Oyo
NAN-AE-11
Cocoa
By Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), May 23, 2017 (NAN) The Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has distributed 800,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers in Osun and Oyo states.
Dr Bamidele Amujoyegbe, the Former Head of Department, Crop Production and Protection, who doubles as Project Facilitator, made the disclosure during the Cocoa Seedlings Distribution to Farmers in Nigeria, on Tuesday, in Ile-Ife, Osun
Amujoyegbe explained that the impact of cocoa on national development cannot be over emphasised.
He said that government had depended on cocoa generated revenue for years and that the institution was built from cocoa proceeds.
“But it is a pity that Nigeria later diverted to crude oil, because of its cheap access to funds from the world market.
“Nigeria has no choice now than to go back to cocoa that has been abandoned for years so as to boost the economy and relief from recession, ” he said.
Amujoyegbe said that the faculty had carried out lots of researches, on cocoa that started yielding positively in 2016, when it impacted on farmers.
According to him, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) collaborated with OAU, faculty of agriculture on farmers’ empowerment and since then things have changed.
He said that FARA was assisting farmers at the grassroots to alleviate their problems by providing ways out.
According to him, the result of the research paves way for farmers to meet their immediate needs of unavailability of agro-chemical inputs.
Amujoyegbe stated further that the faculty decided to distribute cocoa seedlings to farmers to improve on their productivity.
He noted that government alone cannot do everything for farmers.
Also, a Professor in Weed Science, Prof. Oluyemisi Akinyemiju, commended Amujoyegbe for his efforts to emancipate farmers at the grassroots.
Akinyemiju condemned government for not investing sufficiently on agriculture by utilising professionals on agricultural projects across the country.
According to him, for the past 36 years, none of his research findings in agriculture had been put into positive use.
He charged his colleagues to start researching on each seed for proper utility so as to increase farm productivity.
Mr Olalekan Adepoju, a farmer from Ipetumodu, who spoke on behalf of others, lauded the faculty for its support to farmers.
He called on government to join FARA and OAU to assist farmers in giving them loan facilities and other materials needed farm inputs so as to boost their farming produce. (NAN)
EDA/ECN/AFA
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Felix Ajide