By Correspondent in Ibadan.
The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, have begun a training of the staff on ’tissue culture techniques, research and management of tissue culture laboratories.’
Speaking at the two-week training in Ibadan, NASC Director-General, Dr Olusegun Ojo, said the training was to equip the staff with the right knowledge needed to operate in the tissue culture laboratory established at the council’s headquarters.
Ojo, represented by the NASC South-West Director, Mr Kunle Adeseko, said being a new area of specialty in NASC, there was need to train desired manpower to operate and manage the laboratory.
“This newly employed staff, who happen to be the first set are assembled today to undergo the training.
“This training is considered train-the-trainer course as skills, knowledge acquired by you are expected to be stepped down to your colleagues.
“So, we enjoin you to take the training seriously and pay undivided attention to the instructions by resource persons,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the workshop facilitator, Dr Morufat Balogun, said it was the first time NASC would train its staff on tissue culture.
“This is highly appreciated and commendable, we will give the participants the best because the department has experts who can handle the training.
“The two-week workshop promises to be very rich, so participants should be open and feel free to ask questions,” she said.
Similarly, the UI Director of Teaching and Research Farm, Prof. Andrew Omojola, who spoke on ‘importance of Quality seed, public and private partnerships in Agricultural Value chain’, said seeds have more value than plants or fruits.
He urged farmers to ensure that the source of the seeds they planted was guaranteed.
Omojola emphasised that public private partnerships was paramount for farmers and agriculturists to make more profits and impact.
“You cannot do it alone as far as research is concerned, so be in partnership with the right competent people and add value to your seed through packaging,” he said.
The Head of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology Department, UI, Prof. Rasheed Awodoyin, said it was a good relationship working with NASC, especially in the area of training.
Awodoyin said it was paramount to adopt the method of tissue culture in the production of seedlings.”
“Tissue culture is a sure thing one must key into to meet the present demand, with tissue culture, one can produce more seedlings at any time,” he said.
This will be the second time in two weeks the staff of NASC will be having training on Research Methodology and Tissue Culture in seed improvements in Ibadan.
