(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/coat-arms-no-background21.gif) Minna, Niger State, Monday, 15th April, 2013 – As the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), commences a five day training workshop on Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) among other subject matters, WAAPP National Project Coordinator, Prof. Damian O. Chikwendu has called for a paradigm shift in agricultural research in the country.
While making the call at the opening session of the workshop, Prof. Damian Chikwendu reminded participants that WAAPP is a sub-regional agricultural programme of ECOWAS, funded by the World Bank. It has the objective of increasing agricultural productivity with a central focus of creating an enabling condition for sub-regional cooperation in technology generation, dissemination and adoption, and that it is currently being operated by 13 out of the 15 ECOWAS countries.
The research system, the Coordinator said, needed to be more participatory. The way agricultural research and extension organise itself in Nigeria is a major reason why agricultural science is failing to improve the livelihood of the poor, he argued and added that the linear research-extension-farmer linkage and technology transfer championed by the public extension service are no longer suited for agricultural research for development.
He also observed that in Nigeria and some other African countries participatory approaches are not often institutionalised. This, he said, has led to the recognition of the need for a more comprehensive research management approach in order to achieve the necessary organizational change for enhanced client orientation.
The National Project Coordinator described the "Integrated Agricultural Research for Development" as participatory and capable of promoting natural research management and market relationship and thus in conformity with the global paradigm shift in agricultural research for development.
He thus charged the scores of agricultural researchers and scientists from Universities of Agriculture, Research Institutes and Colleges of Agriculture as well as other key stakeholders in attendance to review the way things are being done in the Nigerian research system and to change those things that are not working the way they should.
Delivering a lecture at the workshop on integrated agricultural research for development, a key resource person, Prof. Alphonse Emechebe described Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) as very key and suitable for African development as it fits within the Comprehensive African Agricultural Productivity Programme (CAADP) framework. He said that it delivers benefits through its unique partnership and easily achieves change in mind-sets of the stakeholders.
The five day training workshop holding at the Dogon Koli Hotel, Minna, will also focus discussion on other major topics including stakeholder mapping for selected commodity chains, value chain mapping for selected commodities, gender and diversity in agricultural production and government and leadership in agricultural production.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
Agriculture is very important in every state and country. The citizens would always benefit from things like this