PAAF AGRICONOMY CONFERENCE 2023

 

PAAF Agriconomy 2023 Conference took place on the 10th of August 2023 in Oye LGA, Ekiti.

This event organized by Prince Adeyinka Alli Foundation was created to enlighten farmers about

modern best agricultural practices that can improve the business of farming. 

The theme of the conference, "Minimizing the Cost of Agricultural Production and Improving

the Business of Farming" was imminent considering the realization that agriculture is the backbone

of the society and is one of the major means of income and sustenance for many households.

The guest speaker Prof Ayodeji Salami of the Department of Crop, Horticulture and Landscape Design,

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti delivered a lecture on the topic, "Ways to Make Farming More

Profitable and Less Stressful. He advised the farmers in attendance to have a Plan B approach towards farming.

This farming alternative he suggested is the Irrigation Farming system. Irrigation farming is the practice

of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants and lawns, through

artificial means such as pipes, ditches, sprinklers, to mention a few. 

Professor Salami emphasized the importance of this system of farming as one which helps

to increase productivity even in low rainfall.

In his words, 

"The productivity on irrigated land is higher compared to unirrigated land.

 Irrigation helps to bring most of the fallow land under cultivation. 

Irrigation has stabilized the output and yield levels.

Irrigation increases the availability of water supply 

which in turn increases the income of the farmers. 

It helps to grow agricultural crops, maintain landscape 

and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall." 

Professor Salami charged the farmers to use only certified fertilizers on their crops to increase their yield.

Some fertilizers he mentioned were potassium chloride, urea, granular triple superphosphate, etc.

He also emphasized that organic manure which consisted largely of animal excreta was more healthy

to utilize in their farming practice.

He encouraged the practice of crop rotation, growing a series of different types of crops in the same 

area across a sequence of growing seasons. He admonished this practice will reduce the reliance of crops

on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, along with the probability of developing resistant pests and weeds. 

He also advocated the use of agricultural mechanization. This particular practice of using

machinery and equipment, ranging from simple and handmade tools to more sophisticated,

motorized equipment and machinery, to perform agricultural operations was more likely to

see the farmers churn out more agricultural produce and reduce the stress of human labour.

The founder of PAAF, Prince Adeyinka Alli who was present at the occasion. In his speech,

he advised the farmers to take advantage of modern techniques, sustainable practices, and

data-driven insights, which can streamline operations, optimize resource utilization, and ultimately

reduce the cost of production. He affirmed that the reality of success for farmers in today's world lay

heavily on farmers who were willing to embrace new technologies.

Professor Salami in his closing speech to the farmers advised them to diversify crop production

to easier crops that could be planted and harvested within a short period of time.

He encouraged the farmers to embrace cooperative farming where individuals

with resources will jointly engage in agricultural production to aid and reduce expenses.

The Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers from the six LGA'S: Ido Osi, Omuo, Ikole,

Ilejemeje, Moba and Oye local government profoundly expressed their gratitude to PAAF

for the conference, welfare and transport allowances made available to them.