Research findings on Agriculture by Universities , Institutes have been abandoned – Dr Nto tells Govt

An agricultural expert and university teacher, Dr Philips Nto, has tasked government at all levels to begin the utilization of research findings on agriculture as a means of boosting food security.

Speaking in his office when his former schoolmates from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, paid him a courtesy call Dr Nto, who is the Director of Agribusiness Incubation Centre, (ABIC), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, regretted that research findings by institutes and universities have been neglected at various libraries without any attention by the government.

He challenged the government to not only make use of those research findings but celebrate the researchers as was being done in more advanced countries.

“Serious minded developed countries like America, China and Europe celebrate cutting edge research outcomes in agriculture and not a few kilometres of road,” he noted .

The former Abia state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning further deplored what he described as a disconnect between research agencies and government, saying that there’s no encouragement of researchers by government.

While observing that most of the results and research findings in Nigeria are not used by the government for the development of society, the Director ABIC MOUAU regretted that many improved varieties of crops and livestock have been abandoned in research agencies and charged his guests to join the advocacy to persuade the government to patronise research findings that deal with agriculture.

Dr Nto, who is also the immediate past Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu informed them that the MOAU ABIC has been engaging the farmers within its catchment areas of innovative methods of farming for improved yield.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr Charles Osita of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, commended Dr Nto for his commitment and diligence in enhancing food security in Nigeria through the centre.

He was happy that Dr. Philips Nto was using the centre to revolutionise the practise of agriculture in this part of the country and described him as a good ambassador of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.