A Don, Dr Philips Nto, has decried the non-utilisation of various research findings in agriculture by governments at all levels, and the private sector, noting that their non-utilisation is negatively impacting food availability and attainment of food security in the country.

Dr Nto, who is the Director of Agribusiness Incubation Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, disclosed this when his former schoolmates at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, visited him in his office.

He lamented that rather than the research findings undertaken by institutes and universities being exploited effectively for the purpose they were done, they were dumped to gather dust at various libraries without necessary attention.

“Volumes of research findings that can enhance agricultural production are dumped at various institutions in Nigeria without being made use of, either by government agencies or private concerns.

“This is against the expectations that the government would not only make use of them, but celebrate the researchers as being done in more advanced countries.”

Nto, a former Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning and immediate past Provost of the state College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, deplored this scenario, describing it as disconnect between research agencies and government, with no encouragement of researchers by government.

The leader of the visiting delegation, Dr Charles Osita of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, commended Dr Nto for his commitment and diligence in enhancing food security in Nigeria through the centre.

“We are impressed that you are using this centre to revolutionise agriculture practising in this part of the country, which makes you a good ambassador of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.”