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The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has reinstated its commitment to facilitate solutions to agricultural development and growth in Nigeria.
Lateef Sanni, deputy vice-chancellor-development, said in a statement made available to BusinessDay that the higher institution of learning is committed to offering the best practical training and farming solutions for the sector.
Represented by Dorcas Adegbite, director, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Sanni disclosed that the intention of the University in assisting the Community Based-Farming Scheme (COBFAS), is to serve as a voice to the youths, especially graduates on the need to get involved in agriculture, to aid food security while creating employment.
The deputy Vice chancellor added that farm practical year for students is meant to expose them to real life situations and experiences in farming communities; to complement the various classroom teachings and trainings as well as, expose students to rural integration.
In his presentation, Emmanuel Fakoya, director, COBFAS, said students’ groups are divided into four different divisions representing the four geo-political zones in Ogun State namely Isaga-Orile, Iwoye Ketu, Ode-Lemo and Odogbolu.
He added that the centre trains graduates of agriculture in 13 departments from the College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD); College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM) and College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT).
Fakoya disclosed that in order to ensure that Farm Practical Year Students are exposed to agricultural enterprises; the programme has been divided into two components of Community-Based and Campus-Based.
He listed the community-based activities to include horticulture, cassava production and Agricultural Extension Services while the campus-based activities are livestock, plantain production, maize production, as well as agrometereology and climatology.
Josephine Okojie
