ibironkeeniola The National Seeds Council (NASC), has disclosed that the council is planning to bring the lingering farmers and herdsmen clashes to an end through collaborative efforts with some research institutes to develop seed system of pasture and forage crops to encourage ranching among herdsmen.
The NASC Director General, Dr. Olusegun Ojo, made this known while speaking during the opening ceremony of a 5-day capacity building workshop on seed research methodology, data analysis and reporting put together by the National Seeds Council (NASC), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan.
Ojo stated that NASC is strengthening the existing collaboration with National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi on castor seed research and development of castor seed system.
“Such collaborative efforts are being firmed with National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Zaria, for the development of seed system of pasture and forage crops to encourage ranching among herdsmen to mitigate the clashes between crop farmers and herdsmen which have become a national security concern.”
He stated that NASC is optimistic that the existing capacity building collaboration it enjoys with the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, be further explored further to include other areas that will be of mutual benefit to both organisations.
The facilitator of the workshop, an Associate Professor in the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Dr. Morufat Balogun, informed the gathering that the training workshop was aimed at building the capacity of research officers on research methodology, data analysis, and reporting.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, represented by Professor Oyeronke Odunola; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture of the institution, Professor Ademola Ladele and the Head of Department, Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, Professor Rasheed Awodoyin as well as other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA