RadioIITA, launched in 2019 as an internet and community radio, aims to become a center of excellence, spreading knowledge about agriculture to farmers, including those in hard-to-reach areas, who majorly rely on radio to gain information. On 17 August, RadioIITA continued this drive with the IITA Business Incubation Platform (BIP) and Soybean Unit as it launched the maiden edition of Farmers’ Outreach to train young soybean farmers on the management and best practices for soybean production.
Head of IITA Communication Katherine Lopez welcomed the young farmers and dignitaries, urging them to maximize the collaborative opportunity to learn and share their indigenous knowledge of best practices with their instructors. She said, “We are here to share knowledge generated through research and innovations on soybean. But we also want to hear your experiences in growing soybean and your agribusiness experience in it.”
In his keynote, IITA-BIP CEO and Special Adviser to the Oyo State Government on Agribusiness, Debo Akande, gave first-hand information to the farmers on the progressive trajectory of soybean growth in Oyo State. He said between 2018 and 2022, the state grew over 10,000 extra tons of soya beans, showing the development and growth of soybean production in Oyo State.
Akande identified the crop as crucial to solving the problem of poverty and food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. He highlighted, among other factors, that soybean’s relevance will continue to increase as long as the poultry industry expands. Furthermore, he assured the participating farmers that they would be incorporated into the Oyo State Soybean Empowerment Program and become ambassadors for the crop.
Leading the team of the selected ten young soybean farmers, who were between the ages of eighteen to thirty-five, the Chairperson of Soybean Association of Nigeria South West Zone and CEO of YSJ Limited, Yemisi Joluwe, a leading producer of soybean in Oyo State, applauded the outreach initiative for exposing the pioneer beneficiaries to immense opportunities, promising that the young farmers would maximize them.
The Head of the IITA Soybean Unit, Abush Abebe, spoke on research and improvements in soybean production and trained the young farmers on the proper use and application of Nodumax with a demonstration at the threshing building at the IITA headquarters in Ibadan. He reiterated that the participants should endeavor to replicate the demonstration on their farms.
The farmers also received additional support in planting materials and other required inputs for soybean farming. The farmers also asked questions and were provided solutions to their soybean production challenges.
Contributed by: Folake Oduntan
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