Community relations within an academic setting could simply mean strategies put in place to foster town and gown relations to make it possible for outcomes of research to reach the people for mutual benefit. A major instrument to make this happen is agriculture. Hence, farming and research institutions can work together to promote community relations in the interest of society.
Recently and in a bid to boost tomato cultivation in Nigeria and foster town and gown relationship, the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Abeokuta, Ogun state, alongside the Institution Based Research (IBR) programme, have trained farmers within and outside the local community on participatory assessment of good agricultural practices on the growth and yield of tomato. The training session was held at the AMREC training hall and was aimed at improving farmers’ knowledge on tomato cultivation as well as boosting agricultural production in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, disclosed that wisdom and knowledge are the differences between a successful business farmer and an ordinary farmer. The vice-chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, noted that “there are improved ways of planting tomatoes that farmers need to key into in order to have maximum yield”, adding that they should see agriculture as a business. The Director, Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership (DRIP) of the institution, Prof. Mutiu Busari said that apart from teaching, the university had introduced several research works on how to improve agricultural yield and provide new varieties of crops to meet the teeming population of Nigeria.
On his part, the Director of AMREC, Prof. Olalekan Olaoye in his paper presentation, argued that adhering to good agricultural practices in tomato cultivation activities, pre-planting, planting, post-planting, harvesting and post-harvesting are crucial to tomato production, and increased profitability. He added, “Tomatoes are one of the most widely-cultivated and consumed vegetables globally, valued for their nutritional content and culinary versatility, but tomato production faces various challenges including pests, diseases, environmental factors and food safety concerns.
In the far north, it would be recalled that the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has introduced new crop varieties to the existing collection to better serve farmers’ requirements. The Executive Director of IAR, Prof. Ado Yusuf, disclosed this at the 2024 Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting that took place at the institute. The crops include four transgenic maize varieties, namely: SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T and SAMMAZ 75T, which were prized for their high yield and resistance to the fall army-worm.
Prof. Yusuf added that the institute would not relent in its ongoing efforts on the development of crop varieties that exhibit tolerance or resistance to both biotic and abiotic factors, including drought, extreme heat, floods, pests and diseases, to mitigate the challenges of climate change. The Executive Director assured that the institute’s crop varieties would be complemented by production technologies focusing on improved soil management and agronomic practices that would assist in attaining their maximum potential as well as various simple tools designed to minimise labour costs.
In a similar vein, the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Shuiabu Salisu has affirmed his commitment to fully rehabilitate the deplorable Camp-Alabata road to ease the burden of farmers, motorists and commuters, who daily pass through the road. The Senator said he had concluded plans to approach the fixing of the road in two phases, as this year’s budget was already running, adding that the first phase would be done this year and it would be completed in next year’s budget cycle. Senator Salisu disclosed this during his working to assess the university facilities for possible areas of assistance by the the National Assembly.
Senator Salisu, a Fellow of the Computer Society of Nigeria (FCSN) and a former Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Governor, reiterated his desire to use the opportunity to provide employment for the youths in Ogun Central Senatorial District, especially in the area of agriculture. He, however, called for the establishment of Senator Salisu Farmers’ Market, where the produce from the university research and farming activities would be displayed. He further threw his weight behind the restoration of management courses that were scrapped in the institution, saying the government needed to see agriculture as a business and not just farming activities.
In conclusion, community relations is healthy for the advancement of society through agricultural production. From the examples given above – the training of farmers on participatory assessment of good agricultural practices on the growth and yield of tomato that can enhance farmers’ knowledge on tomato cultivation, the rehabilitation of bad roads can reduce the stress of farmers, motorists and commuters, establishment of farmers’ market where the produce of research and farming activities can be displayed, and the introduction of new crop varieties to better serve farmers’ needs that can resist biotic and abiotic factors, including drought, extreme heat, floods, pests and diseases – would go a long way in attaining food security for our country.