University To Venture In Commercial Enterprises To Boost Cotton Research
Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, says it will venture into commercial enterprises such as seed distribution outlets and other production activities on the ABU Farm to augment funding gaps for cotton research.
Prof. Kabiru Bala, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said this on Tuesday in Zaria during Farm Field Day as part of the activities to commemorate a centenary anniversary for the Institute for Agricultural Research, IAR, ABU, Zaria.
While commending the institute’s efforts on research for new crop varieties, the vices chancellor appealed to the federal government for an increase in funding research on cotton.
Bala noted that the basis of the northern Nigerian wealth was cotton and groundnut.
He stressed that for the government to maintain lead in wealth creation through agro-business, there was urgent for more investment in cotton.
He noted that all dresses we wear were made of cotton or some kind of fibre that has to do with cotton, hence the imperative of more funding into cotton research.
“He described cotton as the potential goldmine for the country.” It sourced for some cash for pre-independence and post-independence Nigeria, “and therefore, we can go back to it.”
The vice chancellor described the achievements of the institute for agricultural research as fantastic, impressive, and highly satisfactory.
Prof. Mohammed Ishiyaku, the Executive Director, IAR, said that the institute was established in 1922 and this year marked 101 years of its establishment.
He added that it was worthy to celebrate the institute’s achievements all through these years.
The institute commenced its 100th anniversary celebration with a tree planting ceremony on Sept. 13. Reports said
NAN/Shakirat Sadiq
