AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has lauded University of Ibadan on the completion of a project titled, ‘Aquaculture and rural communities: Farm diversification process through integrated agriculture – Aquaculture systems and nutrition-sensitive value chains for better nutrition outcomes in Kebbi and Ebonyi states, Nigeria.’
The FAO Project Coordinator and Investigator, Dr. Oluwafemi Ajayi, disclosed that the project started three years ago and the University of Ibadan achieved tremendous success.
The research project was aimed at introducing a process of integrated rice-fish farming in two Nigerian states (Kebbi and Ebonyi), using farmer-managed farm diversification and intensification approach.
The objectives of the research were to consider the technologies that are accessible to local farmers and analyze how integrated agriculture-aquaculture systems influence the safety nets, the diets diversity, the livelihood options, the rural employment (especially for youth and women), the use of resources and the role of institutional and policy innovations.
It also involved business/entrepreneurship study for facilitating market access of farmers’ products through the value chain systems and sustainability and long-term support of capacity development of farmers, extension workers, university students and value chain actors.
Dr Ajayi pointed out that the project was adjudged the most successful of USAID sponsored projects, adding that though it should have ended in September, more funds was disbursed to extend the project to solve some identified problems.
During a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, in his office, Ajayi said that the FAO would continue to support the farmers.
According to the FAO expert, the Memorandum of Agreement between UI and the international organization would be extended to enable the former to make more contribution aa the only University in Nigeria that belongs to the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Advancement Partnership.
He expressed optimism that UI would make more impact on the project by taking the technologies to small-scale farmers as sustainability is a major focus of the project.
The Vice-Chancellor, who explained that the standard of a university is not measured only by the physical structures but by the depth of its teaching and research, said that he was not surprised at the success of the project because the UI Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management is a Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture.
Adebowale said, “Small-scale farmers are the mainstay of the agriculture chain. Efforts to reach them would have a tremendous impact on the national economy.”
Other members of the FAO team that were present on the occasion were Mr. Abubakar Usman, Mrs. Aisha Lawal Ibrahim and Prof. Esendugue Greg Fonsah from the University of Georgia, USA.
No fewer than 200 farmers and 30 extension workers (40per cent female and youth farmers) across Kebbi and Ebonyi states were trained on farm diversification process.
The project was funded by USAID and facilitated by Mississippi State University.
The project was executed in collaboration between FAO – University of Ibadan and University of Georgia, USA, as implementing partners. Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike, were national implementing partners.
