IAR&T trains 4,000 farmers

The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, said no fewer than 4,000 farmers had benefited from the institute’s training programmes in the last one-year.

Executive Director of the Institute, Professor James Adediran, who disclosed this during the Annual In-House Review Exercise said the motive of the training for farmers, intending members of Non-Governmental Organisations, women and unemployed youths was to reduce poverty, reduce unemployment and create jobs.

He said; “During the year under review, some achievements apart from areas of research have been recorded in areas of infrastructure and human resources developments.

“Over 4,000 farmers, intending farmers, non-governmental organisations, women and unemployed youths benefited from training programmes conducted by the institute. The objective was to carry out training that will lead to poverty reduction, job and wealth creation. The farmers, in turn, were mandated and empowered to train other farmers in their various locations.

In the area of staff development, Adediran said; “This year, few of our scientists and technical staff attended both international and local conferences where they presented their research findings. However, over 150 staff were promoted, with emergence of three additional professors in the institute.

He advocated that “Research institutes, extension agents, input suppliers and farmers must work together in order to achieve the set-goals for agricultural development in the country. Research institutes must continue to embark on demand driven and market oriented projects that will solve problems of farmers and industries.”

He also recommended “state governments must, therefore, revive the Agricultural Development Programmes, which serve as bridge between the research institutes and the local farmers”.

Speaking at the event, the acting Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba, urged the Federal Government to protect the farmers by standardising price control.