- FECA Trains 7,500 Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness
The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure said it had trained and empowered no fewer than 7,500 entrepreneurs in profitable agriculture business since 2008.
The Provost of FECA, Dr. Samson Odedina, who disclosed this to journalists on Friday, said the institution also offered a wealth of resources for practical-oriented training in agriculture.
He spoke at the bi-monthly business forum in Akure held in conjunction with an agro-allied group, Harvest Plus.
According to him, the partnership of the institution with Harvest Plus had been yielding positive results as some of the students of the institution are already making money while in school, just as some entrepreneurs, who have passed through the training are making money in the Vitamin A cassava business.
He said, “The Harvest Plus sponsored the establishment and maintenance of 100 hectares of vitamin A cassava varieties for farmers and entrepreneurs in Ondo State.
“Our students through our value chain approach training are already making money and engaging in advisory services on vitamin A business opportunities while in school.
“Though we have existing collaborations with many international development partners, our relationship with Harvest Plus has been most rewarding and sustainable in our record of producing quality, self-employed and employable graduates for the agricultural sector.”
While calling on investors to engage in agric business, the provost said the demand for vitamin A cassava could not be met by the institution. For instance, he said over 20,000 bundles of the vitamin A cassava stems, 10 tonnes of gari per week and other cassava products were being demanded from the institution in Ondo State alone.