East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer has announced the official opening of its new learning farm at the University of Abuja. The launch event brought together more than 180 people on 6 November 2024, including Nigeria's Second Lady, Nana Kashim Shettima.
The University of Abuja Vegetable Farming Learning Site is designed to equip smallholder farmers with cutting-edge skills in vegetable farming. Through this resource for practical training, farmers will learn advanced techniques and technologies that can significantly boost their crop yields and improve their livelihoods.
Like the learning farms at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and Sa'adatu Rimi University of Education in Kano, the University of Abuja Vegetable Farming Learning Site showcases improved agricultural practices and eco-efficient solutions appropriate for smallholder farmers. The ripple effect of institutionalizing these farming practices in institutions of higher learning is critical for modernizing agriculture in the country.
The learning farms are used for training sector professionals, university staff and students, agro-input dealers, and farmers on all stages of vegetable production. They also serve as research sites to advance horticultural knowledge and ensure that the advice provided to farmers is well suited for the local environment.
"East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation has embarked on a journey to empower the smallholder farmers of Nigeria," Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, said in her welcome message.
Nana Kashim Shettima, the Second Lady of Nigeria, performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony and delivered the keynote address on behalf of the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu. The First Lady's remarks applauded the learning farm as "a bold step . . . to upgrade our farming systems and food security through sustainable agriculture" and called for more partnerships between universities and agricultural organizations.
Stuart Morris, Executive Director of EWS-KT, expressed the organization's goals for the learning farm. "As well as being a venue for practical training and action research, we hope that this farm will act as a hub of inspiration to showcase the opportunities that vegetables bring to rural economic development and improved nutrition . . . and will play its role in positioning vegetable production as an attractive profession and business opportunity for the future of Nigeria's young and ambitious farmers," he said.
"By training young people and sector professionals in agriculture, this learning site is positioning agriculture in Nigeria for the future," noted Foluso Adejoro, Policy Advisor on Food Security and Climate at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria.
For more information:
East-West Seed
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