Landmark University College of Agricultural Sciences organizes an Educational Outreach on Sustainable Management of Land for Agriculture captioned “FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL

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Landmark University College of Agricultural Sciences organizes an Educational Outreach on Sustainable Management of Land for Agriculture captioned “FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL

FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL 

Farmers Field Schools (FFS) are on-farm classrooms which help farmers learn successful farming technologies and techniques, and get practical information from agricultural experts, fellow farmers and research organizations that the farmers can use to plan or enhance their own operations. Producers’ most preferred ways of learning new methods and practices are through hands-on activities and on-farm demonstrations. A field school encourages peer-to-peer learning and highlights real-world practices that are successful. Farmer Field School is also a participatory education approach that brings together a group of small-scale food producers and farmers to solve production problems through sustainable agriculture. 

On this premise and in line with the University’s Community Impact goal and with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) numbers 1, 2 and 15, College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) under the auspices of the University Management hosted Farmers Field School for selected Omu-Aran community farmers on Monday, 20th February 2023 beginning from 12.00 noon to 3.00 pm at Landmark University Teaching and Research Farm. The invited participants in attendance are:

  1. Oba AbduRaheem Oladele Adeoti, Olomu of Omu-Aran
  2. High Chief Olu Oyedepo, Asanlu of Omu-Aran
  3. Project Officer, Lower Niger River Basin Dev. Auth., Omu-Aran Project Office
  4. Twenty-five farmers drawn from both genders from Isokan Banana and Plantain Farmers Association, Omu-Aran
  1. Introduction of the invited guests and participants by Mr. Wale Ayojimi of CAS

The meeting began some minutes after 12.00 pm with the ushering of eminent persons to the high table:

  1. His Royal Highness, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, The Olomu of Omu-Aran
  2. High Chief Olu Oyedepo, The Asanlu of Omu-Aran
  3. Prof. Charity Aremu, The Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University
  4. Mr Olusola Oyinloye, The Registrar of Landmark University
  5. Prof. O. Bamiro, The Representative of Dean of College of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. O. Alabi

He also welcomed the guest farmers from Isokan Banana and Plantain Farmers Association to the meeting.

  1. Opening Prayer by Dr. K. Obaniyi
  1. Welcome Address by Prof. O. Bamiro

Prof. Bamiro delivered his opening address on behalf of the Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. O. Alabi. He delightedly welcomed the persons of eminence on the high table, especially the invited guests, to the Farmers Field School (FFS) meeting. He also welcomed the farmers who are the targets of the event. In his address, he explained why the College and the University are committed in hosting the meeting. He appreciated the farmers’ attendance and emphasized on the importance of FFS and the benefits that will accrue to them. He explained further, that the experience and idea they will gain in the forum will enhance their productivity and the profitability of their farming business. 

  1. Farmers Field School (FFS)- Address by the Facilitator, Dr. K.A. Adegbite

The facilitator welcomed members of the high table including, The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, The Asanlu of Omu-Aran, High Chief Olu Oyedepo, the Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Prof. Charity Aremu, the Registrar, Mr. Oyinloye and Prof. Bamiro. He also welcomed the farmers and expressed his appreciation for their turn-up.

The facilitator disclosed that the FFS was founded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and was designed with the purpose of helping the farmers from ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries regarded as developing and emerging economies at the time. The FFS forum is to enable exchange of farming ideas and experiences among farmers with contributions from the scientists. Farmers can also exchange products for trials on their farms.

He added that FSS is done in phases, three to four times a year i.e., 1) in the dry season before planting or during the period of bush clearing and land preparation, 2) at the peak of planting during the raining season and 3) during or after harvesting time. In each of the FFS, the involvement of the lectures/ scientists will be limited.

He furthermore explained that after this initial hosting by the University, subsequent ones will be organized by the farmers themselves in any farm of their choice while Landmark University will be invited to attend. The idea is not confined to using one farm for the hosting but it is recommended that hosting should be moved from farm to farm.

The facilitator further emphasized the importance of irrigation to crop production hence the invitation of the Project Officer of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Omu-Aran. He is to enlighten the farmers on what his organization’ plans are for the farmers in Omu-Aran community as regards irrigation. He added that with irrigation, dry season cropping is very profitable as the harvests always command higher prices than those of the wet season.  Thus, he advised the farmers to engage themselves in irrigated farming for its profitability advantage as it will enhance their financial well-being. 

  1. Address by Asanlu of Omu-Aran, High Chief Olu Oyedepo

The High Chief took the audience to the memory lane on how our forefathers practiced their own farming without the use of chemical fertilizer to enhance soil fertility by engaging in fallowing. However, the heavy pressure on land ownership and acquisition have made fallowing no longer feasible. But with enlightenment, the agricultural scope is not just for growing crops but it also includes raising of livestock such as goat, pig, poultry, rabbit, snail, grass cutter, cattle, etc.

The High Chief also highlighted the problem usually encountered with the introduction of mechanical land clearing techniques in which the topsoil is inappropriately removed in the processes of removing vegetation and trees. The removal of top soil leads to loss of fertility, poor soil productivity and economic losses in crop production. In addition, he said it also leads to land erosion and other land degradation problems. He educated the audience on how bush clearing exercise using bulldozers could be carried out with little or no removal of top soil. Using manual labor for bush clearing and tree felling could be suitable alternative from conservation point of view but could be a little bit expensive.

  1. Address by His Royal Highness, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti

The Oba appreciated the invitation and highlighted agriculture as a major sector of the economy that is being neglected by the government. He spoke on diverse topics and especially on the factors that affect crop production and make farming unattractive.

Sharing his experience, he declared that one should be passionate about agricultural business to get involved in since it is very expensive. He said, livestock farming is more profitable than crop farming. He decried the roles of middlemen profiteering at the expense of farmers.

The Oba recollected the earlier days of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority when farming inputs were very cheap with farmers getting good profits for their labor. He condemned the arbitrary changes in government policies which are not favorable to farmers.

He decried operation of mono economy in Nigeria in oil production while agriculture is being neglected. It is important to diversify the economy of Nigeria into productive capacity.

The Oba advised farmers to plant cotton as an alternative crop because it will do well in this area. They should however come together as an association in order to get government assistance. He also advised farmers to process some of their maize produce into livestock feeds to attract good prices.

Facilitator’s contribution: He talked on farm subsidies in America which encourage farmers to go on producing. He blamed the government for the crises that farmers are facing. He strongly advised farmers to embrace farmers Associations in order to attract government interventions.

He also talked on low soil productivity and disclosed that there is no alternative to crop rotation as the global trend is now to feed the soil while the soil feeds the crops. In other words, farmers must regularly ensure that organic amendments are part and parcel of their cropping program. He also added, that farmers must take advantage of the irrigation facilities of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Omu-Aran and embrace irrigation. He advised the farmers to register with Water Users’ Association (WUA).

The facilitator called on the Project Officer to address the gathering on the program of his organization with respect to irrigation.

  1. Address by the Project Officer, Mr. Hussein of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority

He talked briefly about the inconsistencies in government policies which has slowed down the pace of irrigation development in the country. Previously, government had been subsidizing the cost of fertilizers to farmers but are no longer doing so, making fertilizers almost inaccessible to farmers due to the high cost. Government partial commercialization policy has also not been too favorable to farmers due to high cost of water usage.

He spoke on the current scheme by his organization in Omu-Aran with 100 hectares of land prepared for irrigation project. They have generator for pumping, pump station, primary canal, night storage but the problem of high cost of diesel persists. However, the Authority is making arrangement for Solar Pumps of different capacities that would be affordable to farmers.

He added that farmers must embrace irrigation but must come as an association under Water Users’ Association (WUA) umbrella. This will again enable farmers to attract intervention from the government and its agencies under Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) scheme. 

  1. Address of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charity Aremu

The VC said that as the government continues to play its own roles we also should complement with our own roles. In other words, what are we to do in order to help ourselves in Omu-Aran?

She suggested the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture and especially regular visits of the Agric Extension Officers to farmers. She further advised that the Ministry of Agriculture should be invited to attend subsequent events and advised farmers to think of introducing other crops into their farming program.

  1. Address of Prof. Oyawoye on Livestock Production

He explained that agriculture is not only crop farming but also includes animal rearing and that it is better to do both so that if one fails the other will make it up. He further advised farmers to rear pig, hare, cattle, goat, sheep, fish, etc. They should also form Livestock Farmers Association.

  1. Closing prayer was said by one of the farmers,

EXCERPTS OF THE EVENT

  1. CULTIVATION OF ONE ACRE OF MAIZE USING ZERO OR MINIMUM TILLAGE

By 

Dr. S. A. Oyekale

Crop and Soil Science Programme, Department of Agriculture

Land area: 1 acre (4,000 m2)

Maize variety: Pioneer KMK/30Y87 (can be obtained from Kaduna or Solokad

Multiventures, Ogunpa Market, Ibadan, 07038034142)

Chemical needed: Glyphosate (1.5 litres) and/or Striker (1.5 litres)

Plant spacing: 0.75 m x 0.25 m (inter- and intra-row spacing respectively) 

Procedure:

  1. Cultivation under zero tillage
  • Based on the nature of the vegetation (< 0.5 m tall) on the land, 1.5 litres of Glyphosate mixed with 150 litres of water i.e. 160 ml Glyphosate/16 litres of water in a Knapsack sprayer (about 9 rounds), should be applied two weeks before planting. Glyphosate is a systemic, broad spectrum herbicide; thus it destroys broadleaf weeds and grasses.
  •  Afterwards, sowing of maize can be carried out at 0.75 m (inter-row spacing) x 0.25 m (intra-row spacing).
  • Thinning and earthen-up of soil around the plant should be done 2/3 weeks after sowing.
  • Weed condition of the field should be monitored. At about 7/8 weeks after sowing, the second herbicide (Striker, which is a selective herbicide) can be applied to control weeds in the maize field. At this point, 1.5 litres of Striker mixed with 150 litres of water can be used for weed control in one acre of maize field.
  1. Cultivation under minimum tillage
  • Here, land clearing (packing and burning of trash/weeds) is carried out prior to sowing of maize. 
  • Maize is planted after land clearing at the 75 cm x 25 cm spacing (inter- and intra-row spacing).
  • Thinning and earthen-up of soil around the plant should be done 2/3 weeks after sowing.
  • Weed condition of the field should be monitored and at about 5/6 weeks after sowing, Striker (a selective herbicide) can be applied to control weeds in the maize field. At this point, 1.0 – 1.5 litres of Striker mixed with 150 litres of water can be used for weed control in one acre of maize field. 

Note: in both cases, herbicide(s) should not be applied if it may rain 5 hours after application or if the soil is too dry.

  1. COLLECTION OF SOIL SAMPLES FOR SOIL TEST AND THE REQUIRED SOIL TESTS

Introduction:

Fertility of any soil meant for crop production is determined by the amount and availability of the essential plant nutrients present in the soil. Soil testing helps you to determine “how much” each of the essential nutrients, especially macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is present in a soil. Having this information helps to determine if the soil is sufficient or deficient in any of the nutrients. If the level of a nutrient in the soil is high enough for the crop to be grown, there will be no need to add the nutrient using fertilizer. If the nutrient is low in the soil, then the nutrient must be added in form of chemical fertilizer or manure.

Soil pH tells of the degree of acidity or basicity of a soil. The values of pH of soils of our region ranges from neutral to highly acidic, 

Soil collection procedure:

After light clearing of the ground surface of litters and undecomposed leaves, surface soil can be collected using a clean cutlass, digger, sonku or shovel to the depth of 15 cm or 6 inches (half-length of a ruler) and placed in a clean bucket or a new polybag (don’t use an empty bag of fertilizer or the one already used for manure). More soil samples should be collected at five or more different places far apart from each other and placed in the same bucket or polybag, After the collection, the soil inside the bucket or poly bag should be mixed thoroughly with hand and then sub-sampled to fill a small-size polybag.

At home, the soil will be spread on a wide old newspaper for air-drying for three or four days.

The dried soil will be returned into the polybag and labeled. The labeled soil sample will be taken to Soil and Plant Laboratory for analysis. At the Laboratory, you should ask the Analyst to carry soil test for the following parameters:

  1. Particle size analysis
  2. pH in water
  3. Total nitrogen (N)
  4. Available phosphorus (P)
  5. Exchangeable basic cations (Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium),
  6. Exchangeable acidity (Al+H)
  7. Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
  8. Total carbon (organic matter)

Based on the results of the analysis, the Department Crop and Soil will interpret and give you recommendations for soil fertility management. 

Future Farmers Field School

Based the structure laid down during this meeting, the followings are relevant:

  1. Three farmers field schools will be organized every year, viz.
    1. Before the commencement of rainy season
    2. At the peak of crop production in the field
    3. After harvesting
  2. Farmers Association will be responsible for the organization of the future field schools
  3. The locations will always be determined by the farmers (it is recommended that such will be farmers’ farms)
  4. Landmark University will be invited as participant
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