NAN-AE-10
Horticulture
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, March 29, 2017 (NAN) A Professor of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Prof. Julius Fagbayide, has stressed the importance of horticulture, especially its capacity to improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Fagbayide made the remark in Ibadan on Wednesday at the 2017 In-House Review of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan with its theme entitled: “Role of Horticulture in Green Alternative for Improved Livelihood”.
He said the country was endowed with adequate resources to be self-reliant with horticultural produce, adding that the horticultural sub-sector contributes to the country’s GDP through its produces.
“A meal a day is not complete without one form of horticultural produce or the other. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve horticulture in Nigeria.
“There should be a different department of horticulture at the federal ministry. It shouldn’t be appended to any ministry, but it should stand on its own due to its role,” he said.
Fagbayide noted that the recently launched Green Alternative Programme was a good option to regain the country’s agricultural sector.
He emphasised that adequate funding and support of research institutes, such as NIHORT, would improve the horticultural sector, thereby boosting the country’s economy.
He further urged NIHORT to improve the quality of seeds and crops produced to improve the livelihoods of the people and to meet the demands of consumers.
Speaking on the tomato pest, Tuta Absoluta, Dr Biola Oke, NIHORT Chief Research Officer (CRO), said the pest could not be totally eradicated, but could be reduced.
Oke noted that tomato farms should be continuously monitored from the nursery to the field to detect its infestation.
She added that farmers should prune and burn infested leaves and fruits.
Oke remarked that protection plants, such as calabash, should be planted round the tomato plant as a refuge plant.
“Biopesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Neem (Dogonyaro) and Eucalyptus leaves, are very good for farmers to use; they are being given to them.
“We have gone to Kano, Katsina, Gombe and other major tomato producing states to enlighten them on handling the pest and the Tuta Trap Tray Technology to tackle the pest.
“Last year, many farmers had several losses, but with the new technology we gave them, they are, this year, recording huge success and the losses have reduced,” said Oke.
NAN reports that highlights of the event include the commissioning of the institute’s project facilities and demonstration of the Tuta Trap Tray Technology. (NAN)
CC/MAS/EAL
Edited by Moses Solanke/Ekemini Ladejobi
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