Don wants food sufficiency prioritized

To stem food shortage in the country, a Professor of Animal Science has asked Nigerians to allow only a government that can put food on their tables to rule them.

The don, Professor Johnson Oluwasola Agbede threw the challenge at the 109 inaugural lecture he delivered at  the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Agbede said “there is  need to work towards improving ways by which we can produce food sustainability and in particular, animal protein in the country and at affordable prices, by allowing only the government that can meet our  needs substantially to rule us.

Quoting Albert Einstein,  the Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition said an empty stomach is not a political adviser, stressing that over 60 per cent of Nigerians are starving and need nutritious foods.

Agbede who spoke on “Alternative Feed Resources: Key to Profitable Livestock Enterprise in Nigeria” expressed concern over Nigeria’s inability to feed her citizens despite her abundant potentials and resources.

He advised the government to invest in affordable production of animal proteins in the country.

He called on farmers’ to complement governments efforts by providing funding support to research findings because of the mutual benefits involved.

Agbede appealed to farmers to avail themselves of new academic findings to be adopted on their livestock farms and more importantly the need to transform from subsistence to agribusiness.

To the management of FUTA, he suggested that about 20 percent of its internally generated revenue be earmarked for research and development in the institution.

Also, he asked the university to give priority to the production of technology that is indigenous to “our environment” and centred on improving the efficiency of small holders farmers.