Don tasks Agric varsities on field farmers’ participatory researches

Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria have been charged to conduct their agricultural researches in farmers’ field with the participation of farmers.

A Professor of Soil Science, Prof. Damian Okwudiri Asawalam, who is of the Department of Soil Science and Meteorology in the College of Crop and Soil Sciences of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,

handed down this advice at the weekend while delivering the 28th Inaugural Lecture of the institution titled, “Stewardship of Soil: Perspective of a Soil Fertility Scientist”, stating that Nigeria will benefit immensely if implemented.

Government, he said, should through deliberate policies, challenge and enable the high level manpower available in the country to solve national problems in food and nutrition security even as he advocated that companies and individuals that import food into the country should be made to contribute to the funding of such research.

Prof. Asawalam insisted that agricultural policies that will positively influence food and nutrition security in the country must recognise the variability in the soil resources of the country up to the farm level, stating,

“It is therefore imperative that the soil resources of the country should be mapped and characterised at a detailed scale; and so I recommend. The present soil map of the nation at a reconnaissance scale cannot help the country to make desired progress”.

He insisted also that accurate soil testing is essential for proper fertilizer use, nutrient management and soil water conservation and therefore recommended that agricultural institutions should upgrade the facilities and capacity of their soil laboratories to perform essential soil advisory services for agricultural development of the country.

Prof. Asawalam, who described professional inaugural lecture as an important function and significant part of the university tradition, disclosed that it represents a significant milestone in the career of an academic as well as brings visibility to his department and university.

The university don had insisted that working directly with farmers in rural areas gives a scientist an illuminating experience of the peculiar constraints of farming communities as well as the real challenges to food and nutrition security of the country.

“The soil is our source, our sustenance and our sink. We are stewards, holding it in trust for future generation. Now is our turn to care for the soil and improve its fertility and productivity”, he added.

Earlier while declaring the inaugural lecture open, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta, expressed concern that the university has maintained its inaugural lecture and assured that the ritual will not be toyed with as long as he remains the VC of the institution.