Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The United States Agency For International Development (USAID) has promised to develop the agricultural sector in Ondo State and the South West region in general, through the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.
The organisation promised to provide technical assistance for the college to develop agriculture, which it described as the future of the country.
The assistance, according to the organisation, will involve provision of technical support to staff and students of the institution, with the objectives of building their capacity and enhance efficiency.
The West African Regional Director of WINROCK International, Mike Bassey, whose organisation serves as intermediary between the global body and beneficiary organisations, while speaking at a meeting with the management of the college, said his organisation plans to introduce Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) initiative.
He said: “The F2F initiative, funded by the USAID, provides technical assistance to farmers, agribusinesses, education and extension providers in developing countries, to promote sustainable improvement in the agricultural sector.The F2F programme was introduced with the aim of generating sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector.”
While giving details of the organisation’s contributions to agricultural development in no fewer than 58 countries in West Africa, which include Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, Bassey said through the contacts made to USAID, the organisation was able to leverage on expertise of skill volunteers, provided to strengthen agricultural institutions in West Africa.
He also said the F2F activities was introduced by the global organisation with the aim of equipping new generation of agricultural educators, technicians, farmers and agribusinesses, to enable them address evolving challenges facing agricultural sector in all the countries.