As AMREC trains over 100 tomato farmers in Odeda

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has stressed the role of wisdom and knowledge in contemporary farming endeavours in the ongoing quest for agricultural prosperity, particularly tomato cultivation in the Southwest. He said this at a one-day Capacity Building Training session for over 100 Tomato Farmers in Odeda Local Council, Ogun State.

The training was facilitated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), 2020/2022 Institution Based Research (IBR) Grant on Participatory Assessment of Good Agricultural Practices on Growth and Yield of Tomato, in collaboration with the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof. Kola Adebayo, Prof. Kehinde underscored the symbiotic relationship between wisdom, knowledge, and agricultural success.

He emphasised that farmers should not only thrive in their craft, but also enjoy the fruits of their labour, including the ability to indulge in luxuries and religious pilgrimages.

According to him, the key differentiator between profitable and non-profitable farmers lies in their application of wisdom and knowledge. Acknowledging the support of TETFund in facilitating the Training programme, Prof. Kehinde highlighted the pivotal role of research in FUNAAB’s mandate.

He noted that research not only enhances agricultural practices, but also contributes to the broader knowledge base of farmers and citizens alike, albeit requiring adequate funding.

Turning his focus to the local context, Prof. Kehinde called for increased tomato production in the Southwest, challenging farmers to leverage available land and adopt modern cultivation techniques. He stressed the importance of disseminating research findings to empower farmers across Ogun State.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, urged participants to collaborate closely with resource persons, ensuring the mutual benefit of the training. Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, AMREC, Prof. Jacob Olaoye, delved into various training modules, stressing the abundance of tomato varieties viable for cultivation in the region.

The Director, Directorate of Research, Innovations, and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari, on his part, noted the imperative of enhanced food production to meet the demands of a growing population, and also preserve for rainy days.

During the training session, Prof. Olaoye delivered a paper, titled, “Concept of GAPs, Importance of Tomato Growing and Common Varieties in Nigeria.”
Dr. Olanrewaju Oni gave a lecture on Land Selection and Preparation for Tomato Growing, Nursery Establishment, Management and Transplanting.

Mr. Joseph Fadeyi gave a discourse on Weeding, Pruning and Staking, Pest and Disease Management in Tomato Harvesting and Post-Harvesting, as well as Tomato Seed Production, while Dr. Jonathan Soetan spoke on Record Keeping and Gross Margin Calculation in Tomato production. Highpoint was a field trip to experimental sites on campus, which provided participants with practical insights into innovative farming practices.