The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), has trained at least 5,000 farmers in various crop production systems in in the last two years.
Provost of the College, Dr Akinyemi Fadiyimu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure that the training was designed to enhance food security and improve the nation’s economy.
He said the college had been partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other stakeholders in the cultivation of improved cassava varieties such as “Vitamin A’’, “TMS’’, “419’’, “DMS’’ and others.
The college has cassava stem cutting multiplication centres in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states where “Vitamin A’’ cassava is being produced.
“Apart from cassava, we have also up scaled the production of maize, yam and palm oil,’’ he said.
Fadiyimu added that the college produces improved mango, sweet orange, cocoa, plantain seeds and suckers for sale to interested farmers as part of the college’s contributions to food security.
“Our major mandate is training. We do short term training for farmers to upgrade their knowledge, skills, and improve their production and livelihood,’’ he said.
Fadiyimu also told NAN that the college had been enjoying the support of the state government and that of traditional rulers of its host communities.
“They have been intervening to stop land encroachers who had been destroying the college’s plantations and farms,’’ Fadiyimu said.
NAN
