, t me anised farmingr ~~~~i~'_.~~/t be on pa f'_.__;dus.'.t·rIa ' I' t" : '.0 ..'In . . Isa Ion -,-O,AU V·C
1/ A:lungry man,
as_the_saying goes, is an angry such as maize water man. To be able to thinKartill'lanrationally; I '. I s well as perform better, everybody needs ;':~:tcgr~ ~!:;~ . ~ /1 ~ good, affordable food throughout the year. . . tional Agricultural Research Institution (NARI), with - There is, therefore, unlimited opportunity to invest in turns on mvestment for those who adopt them. food production. Also, for sustainable and profitable food He also counselled the govemment to encourage large scale mandates for these crops, should be involved. in the execution of such projects, say ing that if tltis is done, then production, the emphasis must look beyond "the hoe and the likelihood of failure would be minimal. cutlasses" m entality of the peasant NigeriaJJ farmers beHe also advocated for the involvement of relevant comcause if we continue to do tltis, food carmot be abundant modity associations in the production and marketing of and cheap and above all, I don't think we can be food these cash crops, stressing that, "their involvement will secured within the stipulated period." not only guarantee effective participation by many farmThese were the words of Professor Michael Faborode, ers, it will also serve as a collateral to ensure adl1erence to the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University agreed terms and conditions laid down by the entrepreneur." (OAU), Ile-lie, Osun State, willie speaking in Ibadan reFurthermore, Professor Faborode tasked the country leadcently. ers to create more awareness on kenaf planting. marketing The don explained that ensuring food abundance and and its industrial uses. This, he said, would boost the interest raw materials production, which is one of the pivots on of Nigerian youths in its production, thus the problem of whidl industrialisation rests, should not be compromised, _ unemployment in the country, especially among the youths, neither should it be handled with kid gloves. would be reduced. He further explained that Nigerian farmers need "Nigeria currently imports jute sack for the export proper and regular training in order to change their menof its produce in line with international regulations. tality from crude methods of practising agriculture so Yet, the country's climate and soil is conducive to supthat they could embrace commercial agriculture and earn port profitable and commercial production of kenaf better income. (Hibiscus Cannabinus. L) on a commercial scale, In his words, "we need to do a lot of work to enlighten which is used globally to produce newsprint, roofing our farmers. They need to be made to realise that felt, currency notes among others," he s tated. tractorisation is the major practice now. They need to be The OAU don also affirmed that if the tobacco protaught how to handle simple land preparation equipment cessing companies could work with the rural farmers like tractors, ploughs, harrows, hand-operated jab planter,. in places like Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo etc. TIley should be taught that these equipment must be State to sustain tobacco industries for the last three used along with improved varieties of seeds, as ' well as decades or so, then there was no reason w hy such a recommended crop husbandry practices," he advised. Highlighting the problems facing the development of network could not be put in place to provide the much agriculture in the country, the don said the major problem needed raw materials for the production of newsprint to salvage both the newspaper, as well as the packagof "elite" farmers in the country was that of the wrong • Prof. Michael Faborode, OAU VC notion that "everybody can be a farmer". He said the gap production of crops like cocoa, cashew, coffee,oil-paIm, ground- ing sub-sectors of the national economy. He said the Kenaf Growers Association, especially between an emergency (ill-informed) and an enlightened nu~ maize, cotton, sugar cane, cassava, and kenaf to mention farmer is still quite wide. Hear him : "An enlightened, a few, which he emphasised could be a good source of in- in Kwara State, made spirited efforts to attract a factory to process this easy-to-grow, low gestation pewell-informed farmers will never embark on commercial come for the country and individuals. crop production without carrying out adequate soil test On what the country could do to harness the opportunity riod (120 days) miracle crop sometime ago but with and acquisition of relevant information on _ .that aboUnds in cash crops production, he said the Na- little success. the latest crop production practices. Even at that, there will still be the need to go into a working relationship with indi viduals or research organisations with the-relevant exThe expert also stated that the profit fish farming consultant, Mr fish farming was now witnessing huge pertise to profitably produce the crop in quesKoyejo Adegunle, has advised patronage from Nigerians and the tar- from fish farming/business could be ti~n and such a collaboration will also be fishOofarmers In the colintry to get of robbers. . reduced if poor feed was given to fish. useful in tlle storage, marketing and processing of the produce if need be," he stated. feed their fish with quality feed if they According to him, "for any fish Adegunle said the report he was getThe OAU Viae-Chancellor also reiterated want to make good profit. '. ting from some fish farmers was that farmer to make good profit, fish mus t that virtually" every crop type could be He also tasked them to be securi ty . their farms were being invaded by rob- be fed with quality feed. You must also grown depending on the loca tion and soil conscious on their farms, adding that bers and this was affecting their income maintain your ponds very well and tests carried out, but high-valued crops make sure that the water is freoi 'from
Intensify security on your fish farm
-Farmer
A
·' can't St'll 1 d'ff 1 erent'la te between fake an d qua l't1y see ds farmers I
Chairman, Board of Directors, National Agricultural Seeds Coun cil ,(NASC), Dr Bala Angbazo, has called on the Federal Government to inject more funds into agricultural research institu tes in the country if they are expected to contribute meaningfully to the development of agriculture in the country. _ According to him, research is the bed-
rock of development and any nation that does not give priority to research, would not be on path of development and greatness. Dr Angbazo also observed tha t the country can achieve food security if practising farmers would do the right thing, adding that one of the secrets cif-achiev- ing bountiful harvest was planting quality seeds with the use bf right inputs at the right time. He said that up till now, many farmers in the country could not differentiate between quality and fake see ds, stressing that this was one major probtern militating against achieving food security. "Our farmers should be taught how to identify quality seeds and they should also be educated that they can't just buy seeds meant for planting just from anywhere. Farmers should go to accredited input/ seed sellers and not road side input sellers. It is only certified seeds that farmers should plant because this is a sure strategy to achieve bumper harvest," h~ advised.
He also said that there was a legislation that had e mpowered NASC to regulate and coordinate the seeds in circulation in the country, saying tltis was aimed at curbing the activities of fake seed producers and dealers. The NASC chairman further tasked research institutes' in the country to cooperate-with the council and not jeopardise the effort of the council in helping the government to implement the programmes mapped out to achieve food security. This, he said the research institutes could do by not selling foundation seec;ls to farmers. "Foundation seeds, I mu~t emphasise, is different from c7Ftffied seeds. Certified seeds are what'farmers need and should buy and plant. They should not go to research institutes for them. This type of seed should not also be commercialised. So, we expect the research institutes in the country to operate within their operational ambit. They know their mandates and priorities and we don' t expect them to make .our services oroperatio!l- difficult.
pre dators and offensive odour. This can be achieved if the water is cleaned regularly . ln fact,' the water must be ' changed at a specified time, otherwise, it would choke the fish. Besides that, the fish must be fed twice a day, but I can tell you that some "fish farmed are not keeping to this rule. So, tell me how would they enjoy good profit?" he ,asked. He attributed the low profit from fish farming to inadequate maintenance of ponds, as well the' bad feed being sold
ill the market, stre,s sing that fish farmers should only go for quality feed whose source is known. ,' ''There are many types of fish feeds -In the market today, but not all of them are of good qUality. Therefore, I want fish farmets to ascertain the source, producer as well as ' quality .of such feeds before taking a particular feed as their preferred choice because this is a very important factor in. a successful . and profitable fish venture. But if it is possible, fish farmers can also prepare' fish formula by themselves, " he ad~ . ,-. ._.. , --
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