O-ORBDA, FUNAAB to collaborate on food production

The Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have agreed to collaborate in advancing food security in Nigeria. This partnership was solidified during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council, led by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, to O-ORBDA’s headquarters in Abeokuta.

Engr. Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, Managing Director/CEO of O-ORBDA, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing food security, and empowering youth in agribusiness. As part of these efforts, O-ORBDA has procured 25 tractors for dry-season farming and initiated the construction of seven irrigation-equipped dams across four states.

Additionally, plans are underway to establish an irrigation project at FUNAAB’s dam site to optimize thousands of hectares of available farmland. Dr. Ashiru also highlighted the Authority’s commitment to youth empowerment through its Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme, which equips graduates with agricultural skills and opportunities to access land for farming at FUNAAB.

Pro-Chancellor Oba Olabomi reiterated the alignment of both institutions’ goals, emphasizing that collaboration in research, training, and infrastructural development would create job opportunities and improve agricultural productivity. He stressed the need for synergy between academia and industry to transform farming in Southwest Nigeria.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olusola Kehinde reaffirmed FUNAAB’s commitment to advancing agricultural research and innovation, leveraging its status as Africa’s best agricultural university and the seventh-best globally.
Source: Vanguard

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
This collaboration between O-ORBDA and FUNAAB represents a significant step toward achieving national food security. By integrating research-based agricultural innovations with infrastructure development, this partnership can enhance productivity and sustainability in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.

Key Insights:

1. Irrigation Expansion: The planned irrigation project at FUNAAB will boost all-season farming, mitigating the risks associated with climate change and seasonal variations.
2. Youth Empowerment: The Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme is a commendable initiative. However, stakeholders should ensure that training is supplemented with access to funding, mechanization, and extension services.
3. Technology Integration: FUNAAB’s research outputs should be effectively translated into field applications, ensuring that modern farming techniques reach smallholder farmers.
4. Sustainable Practices: Emphasizing eco-friendly and regenerative agriculture within the partnership can enhance soil health and long-term productivity.
5. Policy and Investment: Government and private sector stakeholders should support such initiatives with favorable policies and investment incentives to encourage agripreneurship.

Recommendations

1. Establish an Agribusiness Innovation Hub within FUNAAB to commercialize research findings and support agripreneurs.
2. Strengthen irrigation infrastructure by integrating smart water management technologies.
3. Develop structured funding models to provide start-up capital for youth beneficiaries of the empowerment program.
4. Foster public-private partnerships to scale up mechanized farming and access to agro-inputs.
5. Create a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the impact of this collaboration on food production and youth employment.