Agricultural transformation can be anchored through research institutes.

[FMINigeria]

By Hamisu M.M.

It is worth noting that agriculture is the largest sector of the Nigerian economy contributing about 40% of Gross Domestic product (GDP) employing nearly 70% the active labor both directly and indirectly on the nations quest for Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration.

Agricultural Research Institutes have been indentified to be one of the most effective channels through which improved agricultural products can be obtained by their ability to conduct scientific researches and analysis.

This observation was made known in a 2 day-North-East Zonal refills workshop held at Gombe.

Arising from the 2-days in-house review meeting and the North-East Zonal refills workshop hosted by the Lake Chad research Institute held at Gombe recently, the meeting of agricultural experts from the zone observed among other things that the Lake Chad Research Institute has impacted positively through appropriate research for development on the livelihood of farmers in the zone in particular, and the nation in general.

It further noted insecurity as a threat to research and extension in the North-East Zone and that most of the agricultural development programmes (ADPs) in the zone were not able to perform their statutory obligations on farm research, etc., due to inadequate funding.

The experts also noted how productivity ratio is extremely low throughout the zone and how most of the experienced extension officers were ageing and retiring without being replaced.

Based on the observations made, the meeting of agricultural experts from the zone strongly advised Lake Chad Research Institute to reposition and strengthen collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders for agricultural development in the zone and the country at large.

The workshop also urged ADPs to put more efforts in quality data collection and research reporting while calling on the Governments of the North-East zone particularly, Borno and Adamawa States to support and strengthen their ADPs for effective research and extension service delivery.  The workshop further advises the ADPs to liaise and seek support of political office holders in their respective States as a means of harnessing funds and ownership of their activities, adding that the ratio of extension agents to farmers should be increased considerably by employing qualified agricultural extension officers to replace the ageing and retired ones.

In another development, the Lake Chad Institute serves Maiduguri and it also serves the North Eastern States of Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi.  Its operation has been described as very successful in the region because it has tremendously achieved a lot despite the security challenges in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital where the institute is based.

The executive Director of the Lake Chad Institute, Mr. Oluwasina Adegbenga Olabanji made this statement at the 2-days North-East Zonal workshop refills.  Mr. Olabanji maintained that the institute has the mandate for the genetic improvement of wheat, millet and barley, which he said, has produced high-breed that has the potential of producing high quantity crops.

Hamisu M.M. is of the Federal Information Centre in Gombe.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria