Adewale said in Ibadan on Tuesday that the nation would be disadvantaged if it continued to rely heavily on crude oil when the agricultural sector was more economically viable.
``The country has large arable land to boost agricultural production and it requires huge investment on the part of the government.’’
He attributed the slow pace of development in the agricultural sector to poor infrastructure, high number of aged farmers and inadequate modern facilities and training for farmers.
Adewale said the effort of the college was to ensure the maximisation of food production in the state and Nigeria in general, through the training of youths in agriculture.
``Our mandate of training youths in the agricultural sector for them to become employers of people and agents of food sufficiency in the nation.''
He said that every institution of higher learning had the responsibility of teaching, research and rendering services, adding that the college had engaged in such activities to boost agricultural production.
``Education should be a social service because it produces manpower to raise economic development of the nation.’’
The professor of agriculture extension said that the institution had designed a drying machine for melon and planned to introduce modern cassava processing equipment to assist the host communities.
Adewale said efforts of the college at producing the best manpower in the agricultural sector was evident in the recent accreditation of its programmes and the ranking which placed the institution as the third best in Nigeria.
He urged the government to invest more in agriculture, adding that the Oyo State Government's effort in developing agriculture was commendable.
Adewale also commended the people of Ibarapaland, especially Igboora, their traditional rulers and community leaders for their unflinching support to the school
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