FUNAAB wins N47m agric research grant

In recognition of its efforts in agricultural development, the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAPP-Nigeria) has handed over a N47.5 million grant to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) for further agriculture-based research, production and development in the country, especially in the Southwest.

Also, the European Meteorological Satellite (EUMETSAT), Darmstadt, Germany has granted the university a disaster control and management licence to forecast weather and disseminate information to farming communities against the impending disasters that could adversely affect agricultural production and food security.

According to the information given by the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAPP-Nigeria), the monetary grant was given to the university to improve collaborative activities in the multiplication of cassava, tuber cuttings, maize seed and fingerlings multiplication and brood stock production for Southwest farmers.

Speaking on WAPP-Nigeria grant and EUMETSAT licence, John Oyedepo, project principal investigator, disclosed that the grant and licence given to the Institute of Food Security Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), an arm of FUNAAB, were based on the university’s efforts in agricultural production and research in order to guarantee food security in the country.

Oyedepo said that the EUMETSAT gave the licence, having observed a ground-receiving station constructed at IFSERAR premises, tailored after Famine Early Warning System built under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to combat drought and famine in Ethiopia. He added that the timely-warning mechanism on imminent agricultural disasters would ensure improved agricultural production and food security in the country.

He however, declared that EUMETSAT licence, wßhich was granted by the European Meteorological Satellite (EUMETSAT), Darmstadt, Germany as one of the funded proposals under the 2012/2013 FUNAAB/TETFund Research grants would elapse in September, 2016.

By: RAZAQ AYINLA