Collaborative research will solve problems of food insecurity —LAUTECH VC

Vice chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Michael Ologunde, has said that researchers in the country must involve in collaborative research as a major resolve to problems of food insecurity.

Speaking at the fifth regional food science and technology summit of the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (western chapter) in Ilorin on Monday, Professor Ologunde said that era of sole authorship of research had gone for good.

“We must engage ourselves with productive research activities that are geared towards national development and providing solutions to local problems. Research activity aimed at accumulating publications for the sake of promotion in our establishments must be dispensed with”, he said.

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The VC, who called on research institutes and tertiary institutions to rise up to challenge of food safety and nutrition in the country, said that they should get involved with research activities that could serve as panacea to food insecurity problems.

In her keynote address at the programme, an agriculture expert and entrepreneur, Mrs. Yemisi Iranloye, said that Nigerian farmers should be encouraged to imbibe use of chemical and organic fertilizer that improve soil nutrients and increase yield as a measure to reduce food insecurity.

“One of the strategies that can help to reduce food insecurity is to discourage majority of our farmers from using indigenous farming techniques like crop rotation and other cultural farming practices which  have been preserving the soil structure and its fertility, and they should be encouraged to fully imbibe use of chemical and organic fertilizer that improve soil nutrients and increase yield.

“Also adoption agricultural biotechnology which is scientifically advanced in using genetically modified crops and plants to produce more nutritious food, cloning of livestock, tissues culture techniques and genetic engineering should be encouraged.

“Furthermore, as a pre-condition for food security, it will make economic sense for the private sector to join hands with government at all levels to fully embrace the idea of using biotechnology to boost food production”, she said.

In a workshop paper, titled, Ethics of Grant Winning Proposal Writing, presented by a professor of Food Technology in the LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Professor Aishat Akinwande, emphasized on collaboration between scientists and extension workers.

She said that local farmers are more familiar with extension workers than any scientists or researchers, adding that scientists should carry out research for extension workers to disseminate to local farmers.

“There’s nothing to extend without research findings. Reports of research findings is to get to the communities for the benefits of the people and the nation”, she said.