Agriculture

CRIN Advocates more Investment in Agriculture

By Web News 700

There is a need for Nigerians to invest more in the nation’s agriculture sector to enhance food security.

Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, Ibadan, Dr Patrick Adebola stated this during the ‘2022 In-House Research Review of the institute’.

Dr Adebola said the purpose of reviewing the previous activities of the institute became necessary to chart a new course for the progress of CRIN and address food shortages.

Chairman on the occasion, Professor Moshood Aliyu advised the staff of the institute to ensure their researches are in line with the National and global policies

Professor Aliyu stressed the need for the institute to also give priority to the welfare of staff, and discipline, and attract grants to the institute.

The CRIN Programme leaders on cocoa, cashew, coffee, kolanut and tea while reviewing the research reports of the institute in the previous years, highlighted the importance of training and re-training farmers.

They, however, appealed to concerned authorities to put in place good road networks to enable farmers to get their produce to the consumers.

Farmers at the programme decried incessant attacks on their farmlands and called on the government to provide a conducive environment for them to operate.

The programme had in attendance representatives of other research institutes and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

The theme of the 2022 In-House Research Review is ‘National Economic Empowerment through Sustainable Research and Development Of Cocoa, Cashew, Coffee, Kola And Tea’.

Olabiyi Fadahunsi

Agriculture

CRIN Exposes Farmers to Cashew Potentials

By Web News 1080 Post a comment

One hundred Cashew farmers across Oyo state have been trained on ways to maximize the potentials of the fruit crop to boost the national economy.

The training was facilitated by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in collaboration with the National Export Promotion Council.

The participants were educated on cashew planting, maintenance, treatment, preservation and ways to maximize its potential.

Speaking, the Executive Director, CRIN, Dr Patrick Adebola said the training was aimed at boosting farmers’ production and providing income for farmers and other stakeholders along the value chain in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo state, Adebisi Adeniyi said the state government was eagerly seeking the collaboration of investors to develop moribund juice companies to maximize the potential of fruits including cashew.

In a message through the General Manager, Tree Crop Development Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Rev.Yemi Adeyinka, Adeniyi implored all stakeholders to support the state agricultural initiative to bring the state into an enviable position in cashew production.

“In Oyo State, cashew is among the economy tree crops that generate income to farmers and revenue to the state, however, to maximize the impact of cashew on the economy of the state, it is ideal to focus on the production of cashew under the best Agricultural Practices along the value chain with emphasis on cultivation carried out by the farmers who are the focus of this training, to encourage the production of better quality and quantity cashew products that will attract better market and industries to the state”.

“Although, Oyo State ranks number 4, in cashew production in the country and with the best cashew products in the world, Poor information about good Agricultural and Business Practices, Low yield, Poor access to good planting materials and smuggling of cashew to neighbouring states for grading among others”.

“However, the state government is working round the clock to improve cashew production in the state through the distribution of rood inputs and planting materials yearly to farmers at subsidized prices. The state government is also engaged in other various Agricultural Intervention Programmes like training of youths in Agricultural Business through Oyo State Agricultural Development Agency, (OYSADA). The state is also partnering with West Africa Cashew Project (PRO cashew) that is being funded by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) in part of cashew producing areas of the state.” The commissioner submitted.

Also speaking, Trade Promotion Advisor, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Ibadan Export Assistance Office, Mrs Bolanle Emmanuel said  NEPC had a mandate of collaborating with other relevant agencies to empower farmers on value addition to make their products acceptable in the international market.

She maintained that the council was aware that cashew farmers lacked the skills to make their products meet international standards, hence the need for time to time training and retraining.

“Over the years, we have noticed that farmers don’t have the expertise to process it into other products, what they are interested in, is just the nut, but beyond the nuts, we have other things like cashew juice, oil, and butter, exporting alone, we have wasted other products,” Mrs Emmanuel said”.

Chairman, Cashew Nuts Association in Oyo state, Alhaji Kamarudeen Alagbe said cashew production in the state was facing a lot of challenges, calling on the government to focus more on its production to boost the national economy.

Some of the farmers described the training as an eye-opener, imploring the government to always create avenues for farmers to acquire more knowledge in their area of specialization.

Adedayo Adelowo 

Education

Protest Rocks Crin

By Web News 1377

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria branch says their peaceful protest and planned picketing will continue till their demands are acceded to by the Director, Chief executive officer of CRIN, Dr Olayiwola Olubamiwa.

The protest started last week Thursday at the institute headquarters in Ibadan.

The union members, carried placards with inscriptions, affect our promotion arrears when due, rotational headship is a must, ASURI says no to diversion of research funds, ASURI says no to nepotism among others.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, Chairman, ASURI, CRIN branch Dr Kayode Ayegboyin said the union had been having series of dialogue with the management of CRIN without fruitful outcome.

He maintained that the workers who had been feeling the pain could no longer fold their arms and suffer in silence, hence the need for the peaceful protest.

The ASURI, CRIN branch chairman maintained that the protest which was in phases started with the submission of their demands to the management to reply within 21 days, but nothing was heard.

He said the second phase is the peaceful protest currently being embarked on by the members while the last phase would be picketing of offices.

Mr Ayegboyin noted that the Union would continue their agitation till the end of the tenure of the CEO in October adding that the union did not have a grouse with the personality but the office.

Contributing, the national secretary general of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubaku explained that if the issue was not addressed, all research institutes in the country would join in the fight.

Reacting, Director, Chief executive officer of CRIN, Dr Olayiwola Olubamiwa noted that his administration has followed the extant rules of civil service in the discharge of its duties.

Dr Olubamiwa assured the union members that the management was doing everything possible to use its internally generated revenue to settle some outstanding obligations.

He said the management was still open to dialogue with the ASURI union executive to find a lasting solution to the dispute.

Jeffery Ahonmisi