About 800 million people are food insecure, globally, which calls for government’s urgent attention to work sincerely with farmers to achieve good results in terms of achieving food security.
The Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Lateef Sanni, has stated.
In a keynote address at the 37th South West Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS) workshop of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAT&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, he said the synergy would ensure availability of food in the country.
Sanni, who was represented by Dr. Mariam Bola Aremu, noted that farmers need to always adopt the results of the research work, most especially in the area of unpredictable weather to know when and the type of crops to be planted at the appropriate time.
On his part, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Olalekan Emmanuel Akinola, emphasised the need for government at all levels in the country to support farmers by providing mechanised technologies to boost food security in the country.
About 800 million people are food insecure, globally, which calls for government’s urgent attention to work sincerely with farmers to achieve good results in terms of achieving food security.
The Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Lateef Sanni, has stated.
In a keynote address at the 37th South West Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS) workshop of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAT&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, he said the synergy would ensure availability of food in the country.
Sanni, who was represented by Dr. Mariam Bola Aremu, noted that farmers need to always adopt the results of the research work, most especially in the area of unpredictable weather to know when and the type of crops to be planted at the appropriate time.
On his part, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Olalekan Emmanuel Akinola, emphasised the need for government at all levels in the country to support farmers by providing mechanised technologies to boost food security in the country.
e added that government should ensure that grants were allocated to real farmers, instead of political farmers which, according to him, is a threat to food security in the country.
Akinola also called on researchers to enable the results of their researches get to the farmers and not limited to the shelf so that farmers can implement the outcome of the research for optimum food productions.
“If farming and technology could work together, there will be food security in the country,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Chairman of the Institute’s Governing Board, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, stated that innovation must no longer be optional; it must be foundational.
He added from improved seed technologies and digital extension platforms to precision irrigation systems and climate-smart agriculture, research must translate into practical, scalable solutions for farmers.
Bamire also stated that knowledge must move from laboratories to land, from theory to thriving farms. Climate resilience is equally critical.
He, however, called on the Management of IAR&T to move closely to Nigerian farmers as well as government agencies to come for knowledge for improved farming to boost food security.
In his remarks, the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, while speaking at the event, called for a synergy between government and farmers to ensure some of the products of the farms are not allowed to rotten.
He specifically advocated for a price mechanism, according to him, farmers become the losers at the end when they have no one to buy their goods after investing lots of money into the production.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) General Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke, while responding to series of questions disclosed that the gathering was not complete without the financial agencies, such as, the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.
He stated that the only bane of farmers is financing, which according to him disallowed them from hiring equipment to boost their productions.
