CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY BASED FARMING SCHEME (COBFAS).

In actualizing the proposal on centre for Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi, Olaiya Balogun, approved the constitution of a committee for the programme with the following membership on June 22, 2010;

1. Professor F. K. Salako -Chairman
2. Professor O. B. Kehinde -Alternate Chairman
3. Professor S. A. Oluwalana -Member
4. Professor K. A. Okeleye “
5. Professor M. O. Ajala “
6. Dr. O. D. Akinyemi “
7. Dr. J. J. Atungwu “
8. Dr. M. A. Adebisi “
9. Dr. E. O. Fakoya “
10. Dr. A. O. Ladokun “
11. Mr. J. J. Olobashola “
12. Mr. Lasun Somoye “
13. Mr. O. A. Salaam -Secretary

The committee worked on the following terms of reference:

1. On the desirability of Community-Based Farming Scheme as a shift from the cropping activities and extension services of Farm Practical Year (FPY);
2. On representational location of scheme sites in four (4) local governments of Ogun State;
3. On modalities on the implementation of the scheme with major focus on Crop Production and extension services of the Farm Practical Year (FPY) Programme;
4. On infrastructural requirements and facilities that are essential to the successful implementation of the scheme;
5. On the administration of the Scheme;
6. On when the Scheme should take off if adjudged laudable, feasible and a welcome shift from the execution of the current Farm Practical Year (FPY) Programme and
7. To make other recommendation(s) that will facilitate and fast track the take off of the Scheme.

The committee set to work immediately, met on several occasions and also visited proposed scheme locations.

The committee recommended four communities from the four geo-political zones in Ogun State. The communities are:

1. Ode-Lemo in Remo Government for Remo Zone
2. Odogbolu in Odogbolu Local Government for Ijebu Zone
3. Imeko in Imeko Afon Local Government for Yewa Zone
4. Ishaga Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government for Egba Zone.

Contacts were made with the various communities, with assurances of cooperation on the scheme. They assured their support in providing:

1. Twenty to fifty hectares of farm land each in an accessible location for both dry and wet season farming;
2. Accommodation that can be rented for about 250 students each;
3. Any other logistics support the successful take-off of the Scheme.

CONVERSION OF COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

The Governing Council at its 65th statutory meeting held on December 17, 2010 approved in principle the take-off of the Scheme with effect from January, 2011. The budget proposed by the Implementation Committee was also approved.

Sequel to the conversion of the Committee on COBFAS to the Implementation committee by the University Senate on Wednesday December 15, 2010, the Implementation Committee re-visited the Communities which had been approved for the Scheme. The visits were to:

1. Create a mutual and concrete relationship with the Community before the take-off of the programme;
2. Make land resource, evaluation and surveys;
3. Make land demarcations;
4. Secure accommodations and offices to be rented for the use of the Scheme;
5. Discuss about the conditions of memorandum of understanding (MOU);
6. Secure a farmland for livestock production;

The visits were made between Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 January, 2011.