The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, has identified paucity of funds, theft of farm produce, inadequate of manpower and dearth of necessary equipment as threat to food security in Nigeria.
Prof. Kehinde, who said this at a press conference to herald the 31st Convocation ceremony of the institution, said the institution is taking step to revitalise agriculture in a commercial quantity to make food sufficiently available for the whole country.
He said the university was committed to practical agriculture, explained that the institution is blessed with about 10, 200 hectares of land with which to realise its intention.
The VC further explained that the university was in the process of collaborating with the Federal, state governments and other corporate organisations in the country to open up the virgin land within the institution’s campus to enable it contribute its quota to alleviate challenges of food scarcity in the country.
The Vice Chancellor, noted that the institution in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration of tackling food security headlong, has reactivated staff farming scheme, and allocated farm lands to interested staff.
“We have started commercial production of plantain suckers using micro and macro propagation techniques. We have also embarked on commercial production of fish fingerlings, juveniles and table size. Also we have commenced commercial production of broilers for frozen chicken just as we have also been producing rabbits in commercial quantities”.
“In line with the vision of President Tinubu’s administration of tackling food security headlong, we have reactivated staff farming scheme and have allocated farm lands to interested staff”.
“The FUNAAB Integrated Ventures has been strengthened and made to expand its scope of operation. The Wood Processing Unit of the University has been revitalized and various wood products are being produced. Eucalyptus tree nursery has been established for commercial production of the tree. We planted two thousand seedlings of teak trees last year and we intend to plant additional three thousand this year. Eventually, we hope to establish a saw-milling plant this year”. He said.
Vanguard
