In a bid to foster the town and gown relations and community extension services, the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Abeokuta, Ogun state, has embarked on the training of grassroots’ farmers in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State on High Quality Cassava Flour utilisation in bread and snacks production. The programme, an initiative of Zero Hunger Organisation in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; and Grassroots Movement; was held in Abeokuta. The programme was aimed “at giving voice to the voiceless and making the son of nobody to be somebody without knowing anybody in the country through training on how to add value to their farm produce, especially cassava”.
The Director of AMREC, Prof. Olalekan Olaoye said that cassava “is now a cash crop in the country with many values people can tap into”. He urged participants to be attentive, to benefit immensely from the programme so as to better their life and create work opportunities for others, even as he thanked the organisers and partners of the programme. On his part, Dr. Mathew Orubu, the National Coordinator of Grassroot Movement of Africa said the programme “is timely and people need to come and put resources together, to make food production effective and available for masses in Africa and the world at large”. He added that they are non-govermental organisation that caters for people’s needs, irrespective of their tribe and religion by engendering good leadership, provide job opportunities, and train entrepreneurs through seminars, to make them independent.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of South West Agricultural Company Limited (SWAGco), Mr. Babajide Arowosafe has reiterated that Nigeria’s drive for circular economy must be intensified, to boost food security and promote industrial revolution in the country. He made this known while delivering his keynote address at the 7th In-House Research Review Meeting of IFSERAR with the theme: ‘Evolving an All-inclusive Agricultural Research for Agro-industrial Circular Economy in Nigeria’.
Arowosafe noted that in this era of climate change challenges, adopting a circular economy model should be one of the critical pillars that make up the implementation architecture of developing countries’ technological advancement. He stated that that Nigeria’s research drive, as a developing country, in circular economy should continually be aimed to achieving sustainable increase in the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness in its transition to a circular economy. He added that the national model should facilitate and bring together knowledge institutions like IFSERAR, critical state actors, large companies and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), facilitators, innovation users and non-governmental organisations in a quadruple helix approach, dedicated to addressing a major multi-faceted green challenge through research.
He noted that necessary action plans must be set, agreed to and appropriately implemented between IFSERAR and the government, adding that most of the public tenders for different national and sub-national ministries relating to circular economy initiatives must be jointly coordinated and facilitated by both parties. He said, “For Nigeria to embrace the circular economy concept, as key driver for innovation in its agribusiness base, there are, however, numerous challenges to be overcome in achieving the critical mass of innovation needed, including important skills and knowledge gaps in enterprises, under-supportive regulatory environment, insufficient financing available in the market for SMEs and start-ups in this higher risk innovative fields to thrive and sustain their circular economy business model/operation.
“The institution must offer its members a full range of support services including professional assistance in developing circular business models, collaboration in larger research and development projects and nationalisation through networking and cooperation assistance. Also, attention must be granted by the institute to develop key tools, including setting up a competence centre for circular economy, which should be focused on human resource development and capacity building on future circular business contexts. I will recommend that IFSERAR strives to achieve a public-private cluster-type agenda that is focused on driving innovation within the circular economy eco-system. Unlike many other institutes, IFSERAR should not be organised around the needs of a single sector on circular economy issues”.
While Mr. Duro Kuteyi the Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Industries Limited, in his paper presentation, disclosed that circular economy focuses on reducing wastage and pollution with repair, reuse and reduction, adding that it also emphasis on restoring natural systems while creating conditions for supporting regeneration. Reeling out some of the benefits of circular economy, Kuteyi who is also the President, Association of Food and AgroProcessors (AFAP), said it would overcome limitations of linear consumption, eradicate waste, offset sharp price increases and create competitive advantage.
The Acting Chairman at the occasion, Prof. Adeboye Akinloye said IFSERAR had lived up to expectations within available limited resources while charging the institute to be more active on a continuous basis and be more open to external researchers for economy diversification. He said all hands must be on deck, to find a lasting solution to food insecurity in the country. Also the Director, IFSERAR, Prof. Alaba Jolaosho said the programme “is timely and urgent, to refocus research for development by involving all the sectors of the economy from the government, industries researchers and the trainers to fulfil the 17 (United Nations) Sustainable Developmental Goals, SDGs”. Bountiful harvesting should, therefore, follow when the above piece of advice is taken.
Farming and bountiful harvest
