Agriculture
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Prof. James Adediran, the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo State, said that many of the institute’s scientists transferred new technologies to farmers in the Southwest in 2018.
Adediran made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Friday.
He said the technology transfer was done in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) of the Ministry of Agriculture in the six Southwestern states.
The executive director said that the institute carried out research activities in the mandate areas successfully and made giant strides in the year under review.
Adediran said the success made were the development of improved soil management techniques, improved maize, cowpea and soybean technologies for increased food production by farmers.
He noted that Research-Extension- Farmers-Input Linkage System (REFILS) workshop was held to review and provide information to farmers and other agricultural stakeholders on new technologies.
The executive director said that training workshops were held in the year to train and empower farmers on new technologies in kenaf, maize and livestock (pig, poultry, snailery and cattle) production and utilisation of their products.
According to him, IAR&T organised, hosted and participated in workshops where youths, women and retirees were trained and empowered on micro livestock production and product development.
“Consultancy and advisory services on agricultural production, soil survey, soil testing and laboratory analysis were carried out for clientele in agriculture.
“The institute participated in many conferences, workshops and symposia which focused on policy formulation in different areas of agriculture.
“Our scientists participated in sensitisation programmes on radio, television to interact with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders.
“The Institute in the later part of the year unveiled a logo for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary) of its establishment which will come up in April 2019,” he said.
Adediran further said the reports on the above activities and the achievements for the year were being collated and would be discussed in the institute’s In-house review coming up in the first quarter of 2019.
He, however, emphasised that the challenges of the institute were inadequate research funds, late release of research funds, low infrastructure development for research.
According to him, there is also the challenge of inadequate training of staff to face emerging challenges in modern agricultural practices; low patronage by state government and industries for new home-made technologies with local contents.
“Government policy somersault in agriculture is also another challenge but with God, we hope to overcome in 2019,’’ Adediran said.
NAN reports that IAR&T has national mandate for soils and water management and for genetic improvement of kenaf and jute.
It also has zonal mandate for improvement of maize, cowpea, soybean for the forest and humid savanna agro-ecologies; and farming systems of Southwestern agricultural zone.
The institute also has the mandate of livestock research with focus on large and small ruminants, trypano-tolerant indigenous cattle breeds, sheep and goats.
IAR&T is the zonal coordinating research institute responsible for establishing close research extension linkages and provision of research back-up services for the ADPs in the Southwest zone of the country. (NAN)
CC/AJA
======
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi