Ondo Senator Seeks Solution To Agric Research Challenges

Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire , the lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, has harped on the need to recalibrate agriculture research institutions in Nigeria in order to help enhance their abilities to deliver on their core mandates as well as ensure effective service delivery.

The lawmaker also said strategic and innovative models across the country’s agriculture colleges and institution would assist to rejigged efficency, reduce costs and further boast the nation’s economy.

Senator Adegbonmire who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture Colleges and Institutions, said this at the 3-day interactive session with the heads of agriculture agencies, colleges and institutions at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, Abuja said he was surprised agricultural handlers were not enticed to effectively deliver on their mandate on agriculture production enhancement and growth .

He said that the amount budgeted for agriculture development in the country was worrisome without considerations for agricultural research and other developmental policies .

“I was surprised that the amount budgeted for core mandate on agriculture production enhancement was N250 million while personal cost was N1.9 billion .

” Also except if part of personnel cost which is N1.9 billion carries the agricultural research funds among others

According to him , the world keeps changing but agricultural innovations at its medieval stage and confronted with new challenges .

“The world has changed especially in the last few years which agriculture is not excluded despite new challenges from food security to ecological concerns and land uses .