On Tuesday, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigerian (ARCN) organized a retreat for executive directors of research institutes, heads of colleges of agriculture and vice-chancellors of universities of agriculture to strategically strengthen the institutions to wake up from their slumber in delivering innovations to farmers.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, who was delighted that the research institutes and colleges and universities of agriculture are now better poised to deliver innovative technologies to the farmers, called on the ARCN to ensure that the next retreat is held at a chosen institute.
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He said this will enable farmers and stakeholders during such meeting to see for themselves what the institutes are doing or not doing for the benefit of farmers.
“Agricultural Research without any iota of doubt is crucial to raise agricultural productivity and is of economic significance to majority of our small-scale farmers who are poorly resourced to access the output of research effort. Agriculture research is a vital component and indeed a strong pillar in the draft National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
“This is deliberate because we have to move fast to reduce hunger and poverty through Research and Technology.
“I am aware that the agricultural-based research institutes are doing much but I am of the opinion that you can do better with the caliber of staff that are working in the Nigerian agricultural research system.
“It is important that Agricultural Research Officers must work relentlessly to create innovation platform in areas of crops production, livestock and fisheries development.
“There is need to expand the frontier of research to adequately cover nutrition, climate change and efficient labour management using Farm Mechanization Technology,” he said.
The minister stressed that the space for agricultural research is wide but must generally target the research activities to address and solve problems for majority of the small-scale farmers to reap the benefit of their efforts.
“I am happy to inform you that the Federal Ministry of agriculture is already developing a robust extension system to support Research and Development.
“This effort is geared towards strengthening the weak bond between Research and Extension services delivery for the benefits of farmers,” Alhaji Shehuri said.
The executive secretary of ARCN, Professor Garba Sharubutu, said that the council is more than ready to ensure that all policy issues are packaged, articulated and translated into tangible benefits for the farmers.
He said the council will make sure that the various research institutes will be able to synergize in order to do things collectively and not in an isolated manner.
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