By John Oba Abuja
Th e federal government has stated its readiness to establish 15 more Universities of Agriculture across the country in the next two years, saying three Universities of Agriculture are too small for a population of 200 million.
Th e Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh stated this yesterday during a meeting with the management of the three universities of agriculture recently transferred to the ministry.
Citing example of countries like India with eighty-seven Universities of Agric presently, and Brazil that have seventy, with forty-eight training centres, he said more universities of agriculture will benefi t the country. Ogbeh however warned that graduation for students from all universities of agriculture should be based 60% on practice and 40% theory. ”
As institutions of agricultural education and research, you can earn huge revenues from agricultural research, seed and seedling development, extension work, soil mapping and even production of food on campus. You have huge parcels of land averaging 10,000 ha each.
I enjoin you to put them to use. Raise plantations as it is done in Abeokuta and Umudike already. Scale- up the plantations over time and earn income. Be the food basket of your respective host communities. “Th e new Agenda enjoins you to be more innovative and enterprising.
In the new dispensation, every undergraduate must- and I repeat- must own a farm on campus from 200 level. Graduation should be based 60% on practice and 40% theory. We are training high level young farmers who, even before graduating, should have started earning a living.
We should be training graduates who should be going straight into production, with credit support from their almamata, produce chicken, eggs, goats, milk, set up
