Last Updated on February 4, 2015 by admin
05 January 2015
In a bid to ensure that agriculture remains a viable venture for the youths, the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria, in collaboration with the Agricultural Media Resource and Extension Centre (AMREC) of FUNAAB have donated a mini-poultry Unit to the Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School (SACHS) Osiele, Abeokuta. At the hand-over ceremony, the Project Co-coordinator and Director of AMREC, Professor Carolyn Afolami, stated that the donation of the mini-poultry unit was an initiative under the Poultry Technology Dissemination Project of WAAPP, aimed at developing the interest of youths in poultry production and promoting animal protein supply for the nation.
According to her, the project took-off in March 2014 with a capacity-building training programme, followed by the establishment of a mini-moveable poultry unit, which was stocked with 50-day-old layer chicks in May 2014, as well as practical demonstrations of the different phases and activities of layer production involving students and Agricultural Science teachers in the day-to-day running of the unit. The Director, who noted that the poultry unit currently had 36 laying hens of about 32 weeks old, disclosed that they had laid over 1,300 eggs, adding that with the hand-over, the school was now fully responsible for the feeding and management of the birds, as he charged them to sustain the project.
Professor Afolami called on the government to have a change in policy thrust by according agriculture its pride of place, stating that it remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy with the capability of providing jobs, food and employment. Re-emphasising the importance of agriculture, the Director commended WAAPP for bringing back active agriculture to schools, adding that it was the fulfillment of a dream to bring back the good old days when agriculture was a money-spinner and major contributor to the country’s economy.
Making a presentation on the focus and objectives of WAAPP, the WAAPP-FUNAAB Coordinator and Director of the Institute of Food Security, Environment Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Professor Akin Omotayo, said the programme was aimed at improving agricultural practices across West Africa by ensuring that agricultural technologies remained easily exchangeable, documented and passed on to farmers. Professor Omotayo pointed out that aside the poultry project, WAAPP was also involved in Aquaculture, cassava production and distribution of its cuttings to farmers. He implored the beneficiary school to share the knowledge gained in the course of operating the project with other schools around.
Reviewing the project activities, Dr. Titilayo Irekhore and Dr. Kazeem Bello, stated that the project was embarked upon in two locations namely; Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School (SACHS) and Akintobi Village with the primary objective of introducing modern agricultural technologies to secondary school students; providing healthy fresh food for schools’ canteen; stimulating young people towards agriculture as a viable career, encouraging self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship among the youths in order to cut down unemployment. Dr. Irekhore stated that the selection criteria for the beneficiaries was based on acceptability, security, availability of adequate agricultural science teacher, animal husbandry, young farmers’ club, water source and proximity to source of feed and drug.
Analysing the performance of the layers at both locations, Dr. Bello lauded them for performing very well but enjoined SACHS to be more committed and focused for greater efficiency and increased profitability. He advised that feeds should be better managed to prevent wastage, while “keen observation and report of any abnormal sign remain a good weapon to fight against diseases and prevent mortality in poultry”. The Principal of SACHS, Mr. Rasheed Oguntoyinbo, appreciated WAAPP and AMREC for selecting his school and exposing the students to the nitty-gritty of poultry production, adding that they never knew they could start up poultry business in a small way. He assured that the poultry unit would be expanded and pleaded for the school to be considered for other business opportunities. The Principal of the SACHS Junior School, Mrs. Abosede Oke, who was represented by Mrs. Olayinka Olopade, commended the initiate of WAAPP, stating that she benefited from a similar experience years ago back while in a secondary school, adding that the knowledge gained earned her a job immediately after the service year.
