New research station to empower Nigerian farmers in modern agriculture
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has unveiled a new research station in Ago-Owu in Osun state, Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand its research agenda and create impact at farm level - this as the organisation marks its fiftieth anniversary. The station, located in Ayedade Local Government Area, will serve as a research and training facility that will support the state's agricultural programmes and offer training support to the youth in the area, in particular, and Nigeria in general.
In 2015, Governor Rauf Aregbesola donated a piece of land measuring about 205.5 hectares to IITA as he sought to bring research closer to the people of the state with a view to creating transformational change in the agricultural sector of the state. IITA accepted the offer with the signing of a memorandum of understanding and began investment on the land with the development of roads and other infrastructure.
Aregbesola said he was glad the MoU with IITA moved beyond paper to implementation. He commended IITA for its research efforts in the last 50 years, adding that the research facility will advance research in Osun state with a spinoff effect on other parts of the country. “We believe that this research facility will train and empower our youth in modern agriculture,” he said.
