One way to address the negative impacts of food insecurity on human lives is to shore up investment in agro-business and allied sectors, Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Augustus, Provost, Federal College of Agriculture (FCA), Ibadan, has said.
The don, who made this appeal during a chat with newsmen in Ibadan, recently, said this became inevitable in order to save Nigeria from the after effects of food insecurity which is already ravaging some parts of the continent.
While assuring that the leadership of the College is “working in tandem with the vision of the present administration in the area of agriculture and food security,” she said that would not only ensure job creation, wealth creation but also guarantee food security amongst others.
“Our mandate in the College is training. We train middle-level manpower in the area of agriculture, and related disciplines. This is a College of over 100 years. As you know, the vision of the present administration is to ensure job creation, wealth creation and food security. In line with this laudable objective, we recently invested in organic agriculture, and we are also a member of the International Association of Organic Farmers, and we are still carrying out research on new areas. We are not resting but working harder at ensuring that there is food security and sufficiency in the country,” Augustus stated.
While commenting on the sustainability of projects, the Provost said College is fully funded by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development but is also open to private sector partnership to enable it expand its scope and outreaches.
Upbeat, she however expressed optimism that collaboration with relevant stakeholders will go a long way in bridging the financial gaps and other teething problems capable of slowing down the wheel of progress.