The Oyo state government has emphasized the need for innovative agricultural practices to boost food security, with the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on International Cooperation, Development, and Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande, leading the charge.
At the Incitis Food Roadshow held at the University of Ibadan Living Lab training centre, Dr. Akande stressed the importance of shifting from traditional farming methods to more modern approaches.
“Agriculture has gone beyond the peasantry system. We need to look at diverse areas in rural and urban settings to groom the agricultural food systems of the state,” he said.
Dr. Akande advocated for a multifaceted approach to agriculture, combining traditional practices with modern innovations.
He also emphasized the need for policy reform, urging the implementation of policies that support medium and large agribusinesses.
“There is a need to start diversifying beyond just smallholder farmers,” he noted.
“We must promote industrial and urban agriculture at both national and subnational levels,” he added, highlighting the importance of a diverse agricultural landscape for economic growth.
The Incitis Food Roadshow also featured insights from Dr. Oyediran Oyebola, principal investigator of the University of Ibadan Living Lab and the Incitis food project.
Dr. Oyebola showcased innovative solutions for improving food systems, including the integration of multiple crops using advanced agricultural techniques.
“We have seen the performances that all of these can produce using these systems,” he reported, citing encouraging findings from economic analyses.
“There is a high level of profitability using these things,” he added.
Dr. Oyebola also highlighted the water conservation benefits of these integrated systems, including the production of black soldier flies using low-cost materials.
The larvae from these flies can be added to fish feed, reducing feeding costs.
“The fras from the black soldier flies can now be added to fish feed to reduce the cost of feeding,” he explained.
Over 200 individuals have received training in these innovative agricultural systems since the project’s inception.
Dr. Oyebola emphasized the importance of community engagement and urged citizens to adopt these practices.
“These are innovations that have been working in other countries. Now that there is food scarcity in the country, these are innovations that the government should come up to put policies on ground mandating people to produce something in their houses,” he said.
The University of Ibadan Living Lab is committed to extending training beyond Ibadan, partnering with organizations interested in training people in this technology.
This initiative aligns with Oyo State’s efforts to promote good agricultural practices, increase food production, and enhance food security.
The state government has also launched initiatives to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on food security and transform Oyo State into an agribusiness hub.