Petty traders and produce buyers from the host communities of Federal University Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria this morning converged massively at the sprawling hectares of University Farms to buy maize planted by the students in large number.
The University through one of its agriculture revitalization organs, Community Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) had since last week been announcing to the public of it readiness to sell maize planted by student under Farm Practical Year (FPY) scheme to members of the Public.
The scheme is one of the numerous channels through which the University has been canvassing and championing the global campaign for zero tolerance for poverty and hunger in the society.
The ambience evinced no less this morning as quite a sizeable chunk of petty traders and produce buyers ‘stormed’ COBFAS/FPY, FUNAAB Farms to buy maize in large quantity.
They came from various markets and areas in the host communities namely, Alabata, Camp, Osiele, Obantoko, Car Wash, Adatan, Elega, Sapon, Kuto and Lafenwa among others, to benefit from the University’s social corporate responsibility, town and gown relationship, which are geared towards fulfilling SDGs goals.
The sales was witnessed by the Deputy Vice – Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo who interacted with the traders, as well as top officials of COBFAS and students that are undergoing Farm Practical Year (FPY), who cultivated the expanse of land for maize farming.
One of the market women, a veteran customer, Mrs. Adebiyi Mufuliatu disclosed that she has been patronising FUNAAB Farms, especially to buy maize for 25 years. Mrs.Adebiyi mentioned the names of successive top officials in charge of FUNAAB Farms to confirm her claim. She pointed out that FUNAAB over the years has been alleviating poverty and encouraging petty traders through cash crop farming and selling of the produce at affordable price.
Speaking in the same vein, the Head of the Market Women, Mrs. Tawa Afuape a k.a Iya Nuru expressed gratitude to FUNAAB for the invitation to her and her colleagues to buy the University’s maize.
She described as mischievous those saying that they are not feeling the impact of FUNAAB in the area of food production, saying they have been feeling it over the years.
She said what such ought to do is to appeal to Government and stakeholders to give FUNAAB adequate fund to massively boost its commitment to food production.
