THE REVIEW OF OYO STATE AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT FABRICATORS’ WORKSHOP
It was an insightful and educative moment at the last Oyo State Agricultural Equipment Fabricators’ Workshop organized by the Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan. The workshop took place on 17th May, 2022 at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan.
The workshop, among others, aimed at addressing the need for modern agricultural equipment fabricators to strategically meet the demands of partners, investors and farmers throughout the season. It was also targeted at asessing the various types of agricultural implements fabricated domestically and how close they are in performance to imported ones.
The programme was well attended by agricultural equipment fabricators from the different zones in the state. It also featured an array of stakeholders ranging from those in academia, development organisations, the state Ministry of Agriculture, the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), farmers and other actors in the agricultural value chain. Several high profiled personalities were also in attendance, notably; Prof David L. Tschirley, (Co-Director of Michigan State University Food Security Group and Director, Policy Research, Capacity and Influence) as well as Dr Debo Akande (the Executive Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Agribusiness/Head of Agribusiness and Mechanisation, IITA).
Dr Akande emphasized that agricultural practice is shifting towards local production, processing and marketing of agricultural products. He disclosed that the state is partnering with local fabricators to revamp the moribund agricultural implements manufacturing site in Ibadan, the state capital. Undoubtedly, this workshop is a notable step in the right direction as it allowed for meaningful discussion, brainstorming, profiling and strategizing.
Dr Akande addressing the audience
Excerpts of the workshop are in the videos below.