FAO consultant advocates special fund for research in varsities

 Simon Adelodun, consultant with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has urged the government to establish a special intervention fund for research projects on agriculture in universities in Nigeria.

Adelodun who advocated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Tuesday, said if well funded, innovation and technology could propel the agriculture sector to the level of a viable economic alternative for the country.


He noted that such government intervention would help in boosting the capacities of tertiary institutions in practical agriculture to transform the nation’s economy, adding that most farmers currently record huge losses in the country because of wastage as a result to improper storage method and facilities.

“Adequate funding for research in agriculture will, in no small measure, assist the universities in meeting up with the challenges of repositioning and provide agriculture entrepreneurship skills to their graduates.

“Different varieties of less rainfall depended crops and plants for different climates and vegetations have been developed in overseas through research.


“With the arrays of experts in the sector and adequate funding for research projects, Nigeria can go places as far as agriculture development is concerned,” he said.

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