REPORT ON THE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME HELD IN RORE, IPETU AND OMU-ARAN ON THE 22ND NOVEMBER, 2024

• Post by: bankole
• November 27, 2024
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Sequel to the approval of the management on the visit of community around Landmark University namely: Rore, Ipetu and Omu_Aran Community, here is our comprehensive report about the visit. The meeting which was scheduled between 20th – 22nd, November, 2024, started on the 20th with familiarization visit to the Palace of the three Kings in order to secure an audience and book appointment for the visit which took place on the 22nd November, 2024. 

The main objective of the visit was to create awareness on the planting and consumptions of Orange fleshed sweet potatoes. The benefits which include:  elimination of hunger in the land (SDG 2), poverty reduction (SDG 1), improve health (SDG 3), youth empowerment SDG 8 and reduce the effects of climate change SDG 13). 

Report on the Awareness Campaign on Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP)

An awareness campaign was conducted in local communities to promote the nutritional benefits of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), particularly its fortification with essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, and other micronutrients. The campaign aimed to educate community members on the health benefits of incorporating OFSP into their daily diets, highlighting micronutrients’ role in improving overall health.

The primary objectives of the campaign were:

– To raise awareness about the nutritional value of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes.

– To educate community members on the health benefits of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and other essential micronutrients found in OFSP.

– To demonstrate the versatility of OFSP in various culinary applications.

– To encourage the adoption of OFSP as a staple food for improving nutrition and combating micronutrient deficiencies, particularly Vitamin A deficiency.

Target Audience

The campaign was carried out in Omu-Aran, Ipetu, and Rore: the targeted local community members, especially farmers were encouraged to the cultivation of OFSP in local farms.

Activities Conducted

A series of interactive activities were carried out during the campaign:

-Exhibitions: Displays of OFSP were set up in community centers, showcasing the different types and benefits of the crop.

-Interactive Sessions: Q&A sessions were held where community members could ask questions regarding the health benefits of OFSP, its cultivation, and potential market value.

-Educational Materials Distribution: Pamphlets, posters, and leaflets that explained the benefits of OFSP and offered guidance on its preparation were distributed to attendees.

Key Messages Delivered

Nutritional Benefits, Micronutrient Fortification, Impact on Public Health, Farming and Economic Benefits

Community Engagement and Participation

The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from local community members. Over 15, 30, and 15 individuals attended the awareness campaign in Rore, Ipetu and Omuaran respectively. 

Farmers showed a keen interest in earning about the best practices for growing OFSP. Many expressed eagerness to adopt OFSP if we provide the market for them to sell.  

Outcomes and Impact

The campaign successfully reached a total of about 100 persons. The outcome of the campaign was; – Increased awareness among community members about the health benefits of OFSP, particularly its role in preventing Vitamin A deficiency.

– Enhanced knowledge of how to grow, harvest, and prepare OFSP, with several farmers indicating their intention to plant the crop in the upcoming season.

– Strengthened partnerships between the team and community leaders to continue promoting the crop.

Challenges and Recommendations

While the campaign was largely successful, a few challenges were encountered:

– Farmers were open to receiving the messages. However, they kept complaining about the current constraints they face on the farm like the herdsmen encroachment.

Recommendations for future campaigns include:

– Strengthening supply chains for OFSP vine to ensure wider access to the crop for farmers.

– Expanding outreach efforts to more remote areas to ensure broader coverage.

– Partnering with local vendors and market leaders to help ease off taking after harvest.

Conclusion

The awareness campaign on Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato was an important initiative in educating local communities about the nutritional benefits of this micronutrient-rich crop. By fostering greater understanding and appreciation for OFSP, the campaign helped set the stage for healthier diets and improved food security in the region. Moving forward, it is vital to continue engaging with communities, supporting local farmers, and advocating for the inclusion of OFSP in everyday meals to tackle micronutrient deficiencies and improve overall public health.

Extension Methods used during the campaign

 The awareness was done through individual method, group methods and mass media methods. Individual method includes one on one with community member with the help of flyers and jingles done by the department in English and in Yoruba language, group method and mass media method were successful.

The second main objectives were the adoption of one of the approaches of community and rural development approach which is bottom top approach. This approach helps us to obtain information from the community about their problems and challenges in the area of agriculture (Agricultural Extension) and in the area of community development (Rural Development). This information is to be used for their development, because we must know the felt need of the community, which may be used to design a sustainable integrated programme for the community.  This is important because any programme that does not emanate from the community may be rejected.  On that note the following feedback were raised from the communities. 

FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITIES CAMPAIGN 

1. RORE COMMUNITY : Rore community received us with joy and enthusiasm and promise that they are ready to adopt our technology only if we can guarantee supply of input, most especially, the vine/slip for planting and the outlet for marketing their produce 

1.1.1 ACTION PLAN- Landmark University should go into sweet potatoes production in large scale and include value addition such as conversion to bread, chips, potatoes flour, gari etc. This should be back-up with irrigation during the dry session. Orchard can be used for this purpose if irrigation can be employed to sustain it during drying season and also serve as distribution Centre for their nearby communities 

2. The farmers in the community raised issue of concerns to them in their community. Below were listed issue of concern in order of their importance
   1. The first issue was on security because they claimed that Herdsmen’s invasion of their community is becoming unacceptable the consequence of it is that some have resolve not to go farm this coming year because of these challenges. 

1.2.2. COMMUNITY REQUEST: The community pleaded to BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO to help them solve the problem of security in their zone  

3. Farm machinery and implement; They also claimed that this is very important to them as majorities could not farm because of this limitation. They further re affirmed that they need Tractor for their operations 
4. COMMUNITY REQUEST: They said they will appreciate if university can help them in that regards through tractor hiring services  
5. Fertilizers and inputs; They claimed that their land has lost its fertility and for it to regain her fertility nutrient is needed if the University can help in this area.
6. COMMUNITY REQUEST:  They said they will appreciate if university can help them in that regards through tractor hiring services  
7. Scholarship to their children. They said before two slots were given to Rore but someone block it.  

2.0. IPETU COMMUNITY 

2.1 The Ipetu community received us with joy, women and youth troop out in number to welcome us, elders were also substantial in number. They also showed interest and promise to adopt it. But we must provide market outlet for their produce, as well as provide input and training  

2.2. ACTION PLAN  

2.3. Landmark should source for high improved variety of this sweet potatoes and go into multiplication of such for commercial production under irrigation system. This will make Landmark university major supplier to farmers in these zones and others. This will help to boost our Internal Generated Revenue   and sustain our production system year in and out. 

4. Moreover, Landmark University should organize farmers field school for farmers to learn about best practices in sweet production and other crops that they produce in this zone such as cassava, cashew, cocoa production and others 
5. The farmers in the community raised issue of concerns to them in their community. The majorities of the problem raised were almost the same as that of Rore community as listed above, 

3.0. OMU ARAN COMMUNITY 

The third community we visited    was Omu-Aran where we meet with Olumu of Omu Aran and the council of chiefs almost 40 in numbers who welcome us and listen to our awareness programme but to our surprise Olumu Is also Into Sweet Potatoes Production. According to him He has up to 5 ha of sweet potatoes ready for harvest, so he had requested that we should find Him buyer 

1. The chiefs in the community raised the issue of concerns about their farm operation in their community. Below were listed issue of concern in order of their importance
2. TRACTOR HIRING CHALLENGES   DURING PLANTING SEASON: The council members reiterated that they need the assistance of Landmark University in their land preparation as the River Basin tractor services have not been able to solve their problem during planting season. They said they will pay for the service. Particularly, Chief Asanlu of Omu Aran (Elder Oyedepo) beg the University to help solve this problem

3.1.2. PRIVATISATION OF ELEYIN LAND. CHIEF ASANLU (BISHOP OYEDEPO SENIOR BROTHER) PARTICULARLY RAISED THIS ISSUE.  The community pointed out that Landmark University land resources along Eleyin should not be neglected. The community said they are ready to partner with the institution if Landmark University can rent out the land to  farmers in the community for farming purposes and  the payment would be made to landmark University yearly . 

3.  PLANTING MATERIAL ISSUES.   The community affirmed that they are happy that landmark University vision is on agriculture and we came to visit them, but they said they want us to be source or Centre of distributing planting material. as regards to sweet potatoes vine. some of the community reaffirmed that they had to purchase their vine from outside omu-aran.  
4. MARKETING OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE 

They said they don’t have issue in adopting the innovation we brought as long

we can provide training on the value additions of sweet potatoes and other

agricultural produce. Therefore, there is a need to look into this problem

concisely 

SUMMARY 

In summary, the two objectives with which this outreach was organized was accomplished to a certain extent. The awareness of orange fleshed sweet potatoes was successful. The three communities namely Rore, Ipetu an Omu-aran were visited but we still need to visit some farmers who are interested in adoption of the innovation disseminated according to the counsel of  .Olumu of Omu-aran

Moreover, we need to respond to the need of the communities in order to bring about the rural development in the area    

CONCLUSION 

Farmers and the communities a visited were interested in adoption of the new technology for the purpose of increasing their income, reduce hunger, improve their health, provide job for the jobless youth etc

However, this adoption is based on the availability of vine, technical knowledge about the production and ready market and value addition for the crops.   

In conclusion, our integrated rural development programme may be built on the  felt needs of the people taking advantage of the interest and challenges of the farmers  in the communities. 

RECOMMENDATION

The need of the communities in the area of agriculture should be our focus in integrating rural development in the area. These communities are the major communities that surrounded Landmark University in which we can impact the community. Therefore, Landmark University should come up with programme on the identified need such as:

1. marketing of their produce such as sweet potatoes of the OLomu of Omu-aran to cafeteria etc.
2.  the proprietor base may be of assistance in providing tractor for land preparation and Eleyin land for rentage as

the management and college of agriculture may provide input such as fertilizers, planting material, technical advice before planting, soil testing programme at affordable price for the farmers in the community etc   

3. The proprietor base can help in the area of security by communicating the message of the communities to the State and Federal government of Nigeria.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Landmark University, all the community members, farmers, and team members from Agricultural economics and extension who contributed to the success of the campaign. Special thanks to Olomi of Omu Aran for the privilege to listen to our awareness on OFSP.  God will reward everyone in Jesus mighty name.

Finally, I want to appreciate God and give Him all the glory for the success of this programme. 

DR.OBANIYI. K.S.   

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