By Rotimi Famakin
To reduce the burden of high cost of living among households in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, has trained fifty residents in its neighborhood on ‘Home Gardening’.
The training in three segments that centred on vegetable farming methods, container gardening and health benefits of vegetables, also incorporated theoretical and practical training on land preparation, seedlings and planting techniques.
In his presentation on the agronomic technique on how to grow jute leaves (ewedu), a Director of Research at the institute, Dr Akinfasoye Akindele, said seed varieties selection, preparation as well as planting methods, are necessary in realizing high crop yield, in the farms.
Commenting on container gardening, the Director of Research and Community Home Gardening, Dr Olutola Oyedele, explained that damaged plastic containers, could be useful in vegetable crop production at home, to alleviate domestic food cost.
Speaking on the health benefits of vegetables, another Director of Research at the institute, Dr Funmilayo Olajide-Taiwo, said vegetables such as okro, scent leaves, bitter leaves and ewedu, possess health benefits ranging from reducing high blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar, while boosting the human immune system, improving digestion, reducing sleep disorder as well as possessing other necessary vitamins, needed for sustainable healthy living.
Earlier, the Executive Director of NIHORT, Professor Lawal Atanda, who was represented by a Director of Research in the institute, Dr Henry Akintoye, said the training was not only meant to reduce poverty but to align with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Some of the participants including Mr Oladoyinbo Olugbenga, Mrs Idowu Ajayi and Mr Odion Peter, said the training had exposed them to new techniques of vegetable farming and pledged to replicate it in the new farming season.
The event also featured a field demonstration of the training on vegetable farming.
Edited by Titilayo Kupoliyi
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