Heads of agric colleges seek PPP arrangement to run spin-off companies

The National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD) has advocated for a Public Private Partnership arrangement to run the recently approved spin-off companies for the colleges.

This is contained in a Communiqué issued at the end of the 65th Regular meeting of NACHCARD, held at the headquarters of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria ((ARCN) in Abuja.

The Communiqué which was signed by the National Chairman of NACHCARD, Dr Jude Obi Okpara also said that the Committee welcomed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) request for information on available land for food production in the Colleges as part of ways of addressing the Presidential declaration of emergency on food security.

NACHCARD however urged the Ministry not to lease the Colleges’ lands to 3rd parties, rather the Ministry should make fund/input available to the Colleges to carry out the production operations.

According to the communiqué, this is to forestall the eventual taking over of colleges’ lands by land grabbers.

“The committee advocated for FMAFS to utilize and patronize the Colleges who have mandate, manpower and infrastructure for training in agriculture and in executing its farmers and extension workers training programs.

“The committee also advocated for Private Partnership Arrangements (PPA) in Agribusiness in view of the approval of Spin-off Company for the Colleges

“The committee observed with dismay the reduction in students intake into colleges of agriculture recently as a result of lowering of JAMB Cutoffs for universities, and the increasing numbers of Polytechnics mounting agricultural courses.

“The committee is of opinion that if this trend continues it will not only undermine the basis for creating these colleges in the first place but also jeopardize the government effort at encouraging youths to take up agriculture as a business and the food security efforts of the government”, the Communiqué noted.

Furthermore, the Communiqué stated that the committee called upon the government to inaugurate the board of National Agriculture Fund (NADFUND) for speedy operational commencement in order to enhance the effectiveness of the emergency declared on food security.

The committee also advocated that the Agricultural Colleges at federal and state levels be given top priority in fund allocation under the NADFUND as these colleges were erroneously excluded from tertiary institutions enjoying TetFund since 2010.

“The committee also discussed extensively on the NBTE’s engagement with Colleges of agriculture and related disciplines on the need to review the curricula of agricultural courses and in doing so engage the services of resource persons from the colleges of agriculture to participate in the review.

“The committee call upon NBTE to give priority to colleges of agriculture in the mounting of National skills qualifications (NSQs) in agriculture rather than non- professional consultants as this will also boost enrolment in our Colleges.

“The committee called on NBTE to have a second look at the deadline fixed for commencement ofe-accreditation of programmes to enable the colleges have enough time and resources to put necessary infrastructures in place.

“The committee observed that application portals of some government agencies especially military and paramilitary do not include the names of Monotechnics in the list of tertiary institutions in the country thereby denying our graduates who are qualified to participate in their recruitment exercises. The committee appealed for inter – ministerial dialogue to resolve the issue.

“The committee equally resolved that there should be maximum co-operation and collaboration amongst the colleges in their research and social activities for exchange of ideas and innovations. This will also help in showcasing their research findings.

“The meeting also resolved that there should be harmonization in the scheme and conditions of service of colleges of agriculture and related disciplines.

“The committee appealed to Head of Service of the Federation to release the revised scheme and conditions of service for the colleges of agriculture and related disciplines to resolve lingering crisis in career progression and incessant union agitation”, the Communiqué added.

The committee commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency on food security and the effort of the Minister Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Minister of State, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in pursuing food security policy on every front since taking up the leadership of the ministry.

The committee also commended the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Professor Garba Sharubutu for his support.