Ogun State Government has expressed its readiness to strengthen it partnership with the University by exploring other relevant areas of agriculture for the overall development of the state and the nation in general.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo stated this during a Courtesy Call on the Management of the University.
Mrs Adebajo who lauded the impact of the existing partnership said the State Government is ready to collaborate with the University in the areas of planting and processing of cassava crops, as well as fish and livestock production, in order to boost employment and wealth generation.
The Commissioner commended the University for its support in the production of the recently-launched MITROS Ofada Rice in the State which turned out to be a huge success.
Mrs. Adebajo added that the Ministry devised a strategy named AGRIPOLITAN which encompassed planting, processing, packaging, promoting and partnering in all agricultural produce, noting that there was a gap between the demand and supply of agricultural products which is being bridged by government.
Encouraging more youths and women to participate in agriculture to enhance value-addition, the Commissioner said that the State was emphasizing the value chain, disclosing that the State has the highest number of companies that make use of cassava in Nigeria.
Receiving the Commissioner and his team, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kolawole Salako stated that it was high time the agricultural sector became mechanised, noting that cultivation with hoes and cutlasses should be a thing of the past. According to him, every investment on human labour on the farm should be drastically reduced in order for agriculture to be attractive.
The sixth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University and former Director of Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), stressed that the present status of cassava production in the State was commendable though needed to be enhanced as there were potentials and markets for cassava crops. He assured the Commissioner that the University would continue to lend its support to the government’s Ofada rice production, while applauding her for acting as a catalyst in achieving the success of the launch.
Commenting on Ogun State’s resourcefulness in sustaining the lead as the highest producer of cassava crops for industries in the country, Professor Salako encouraged the government to improve on electricity supply and storage facilities, to enhance cassava production in Nigeria. He noted that there was immense benefit to be enjoyed by all when both the State Government and the University synergise their activities.
Pledging the University’s support for the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture in the State, the Vice-Chancellor, stated that there was adequate expertise in the University in the areas of cassava, ofada rice, poultry, tree crops, cotton as well as fruits and vegetables production, among others to assist the State in revolutionising agriculture.
