By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Femi Dansu

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), through its Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), recently held a One-Day Capacity Building Workshop for farmers on innovative rice production. The Training, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), focused on boosting rice yield through the adoption of ratoon technology.

Held at the Prof. T.O. Tayo Laboratory on September 4, 2024, the event attracted 18 rice farmers from various parts of Ogun State. The primary objective was to raise awareness about ratoon technology, a technique that allows farmers to harvest rice more than once from the same crop, thereby increasing production and reducing costs.

The workshop, facilitated by Prof. Sunday Adigbo, a Research Fellow at IFSERAR, explained the benefits of ratoon technology. He demonstrated the technique on one of FUNAAB’s Rice Farms, showing how farmers could achieve a second harvest nearly as bountiful as the first, significantly enhancing rice yields. “This technique has the potential to revolutionise rice production in this region, improving both farm productivity and the livelihoods of farmers,” Prof. Adigbo noted.

In his remarks, the Director, Directorate of Research, Innovations, and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari, urged the government to provide financial support for farmers with viable project proposals, while the Director, IFSERAR, Prof. Alaba Jolaosho encouraged farmers to collaborate and showcase their progress, adding, “We must demonstrate the impact of our work so the public can see the benefits.”

The workshop underscored FUNAAB’s commitment to promoting advanced agricultural techniques, positioning its researchers and scientists as key contributors to enhancing national food security.

The event was attended by representatives from the Rice Farmers Association, including the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter, Alhaji Adesina Arikanserere, alongside other officials from FUNAAB.