FUNAAB AMREC Trains Tomato Farmers on Good Agricultural Practices

The Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in collaboration with the Institution Based Research (IBR) TETFund Grant Project, has empowered tomato farmers with essential knowledge on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

The training, themed "Result Dissemination and Post-Training on Good Agricultural Practices for Tomato Farmers," aimed at enhancing sustainable farming techniques, boosting productivity, and improving crop quality while minimizing environmental impact.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advancing tomato cultivation through research. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo, the Vice-Chancellor urged farmers to actively participate in the training sessions and utilize the expertise shared by FUNAAB researchers.

The Director of AMREC, Prof. Jacob Olaoye, emphasized the importance of continuous engagement between farmers and researchers to improve tomato farming outcomes. Similarly, the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovations, and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Mutiu Busari, highlighted the role of technology in modern agriculture, stating that mobile applications could assist farmers in assessing soil fertility and determining suitable fertilizer types.

One of the facilitators, Dr. Olatunbosun Soetan, presented findings from a study on GAPs, revealing a lack of awareness among tomato farmers and advocating for more training initiatives. Another facilitator, Dr. James Fadeyi, focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to mitigate crop losses. Additionally, Dr. Olanrewaju Oni discussed the impact of biostimulants and fertilizer types on okra growth and yield, offering insights applicable to tomato farming.

The training session was well attended by AMREC staff, including the Deputy Director, Prof. Olalekan Oyekunle, as well as tomato farmers from the immediate community, all eager to apply the knowledge gained to their farming practices.