The Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun has set a 10-point agenda for the new administration and other stakeholders amied at improving agricultural productivity, food security and agriculture’s contribution to national development.
He gave the task while delivering the 69th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA.
Speaking on the topic, “Nigeria’s Agricultural Policy, Productivity And Poverty: The Critical Nexus”, Ajibefun, was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, that for the nation to achieve food security and reduce poverty, urgent steps must be taken particularly by the Federal Government to invest heavily in research and development.
He also canvassed unhindered access of small scale farmers to productivity-enhancing inputs as well as provision of sustainable rural financial and other services to farmers and access to breed of highly productive animals that could withstand tropical environment, enhance rural earnings and promote innovative solutions to poverty.
Ajibefun, also recommended the establishment of community driven development approach, promotion of irrigation agriculture and drainage infrastructure for climate change adaptation and effective capacity building to strengthen the most vulnerable group in agricultural production as the pathways to the development and sustainability of the sector.
The don, who is a Professor of Agricultural Economics, expressed optimism that agriculture could regain its position as the mainstay of the nation’s economy if farmers who constitute the bulk of the population continue to derive their livelihood from agriculture.
To him, sustainable agricultural productivity growth can only be achieved through sustained local and global investment in agricultural research and development which will ensure delivery of improved technologies to farmers.
While not discountenancing the importance of farmers, he said suppliers of productivity enhancing inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and seeds as well as other key chain players such as transporters, traders and processors, providers of technology or rural finance , domestic and foreign buyers are also critical to improving agricultural productivity.
In his remarks, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola urged the policy makers in agriculture and relevant stakeholders to make use of the recommendations of the guest lecturer, saying doing so would help not only the sector but the entire economy.