Access to information on innovation and research results is a key factor for Africa to address the issue of agricultural development and achieve zero hunger. Communicating agricultural information is essential for smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and livelihood. In Africa, using radio, television, and social media platforms to disseminate vital agricultural messages has proven to be an excellent resource for increasing agricultural growth.

 Radio ITA launched a Farmers’ Outreach Program on 17 August 2023, designed to disseminate IITA research-validated knowledge on modern agronomic practices in Soybean farming and the application of Nodumax.

Ten young farmers in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, were selected, trained in this regard, and supported with planting materials and other required inputs for soybean farming.

Kathy Lopez, Head of Communication IITA, welcomed the farmers in her opening speech while briefly introducing Radio ITA, which started its operations as an internet facility and metamorphosed into a terrestrial radio in 2021. She told the farmers that the radio’s objective is to reach farmers, who are the end-users of IITA’s technologies and innovations.

In a brief overview of the project, Dajie Odok, Radio ITA Lead, told the farmers that the project is all about introducing, training, and equipping them with IITA’s improved agricultural technologies and innovations. “The RadioIITA Farmers Outreach Program is a new project, and this is our maiden edition; we are happy you are our first participants. We intend to extend this training through our radio to other farmers in other remote parts of Nigeria and beyond”, she said

During his keynote address, Dr. Debo Akande, CEO of IITA Business Incubation Platform and Special Adviser to the state government on agribusiness, spoke on developments in soybean production and identified the crop as crucial in solving the problem of poverty and food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. He also advised the youths to be proactive, search for opportunities in agriculture, and shun the attitude of entitlement prevalent among African youths. As a further contribution, he announced that the ten farmers would be incorporated into the Oyo State Soybean Empowerment program and become ambassadors of the crop.

IITA Soybean Unit Head, Dr. Abush Abebe, spoke on research and improvements in soybean production and trained the young farmers on the proper use and application of Nodumax with a demonstration at the threshing building of IITA headquarters, Ibadan. “Ensure you follow the instructions as seen in today’s demonstration, replicate the same on your farm, and do not go back to your old ways of planting soybeans,” he said.

The participants were engaged in pre- and post-test questions to assess their level of knowledge before and after training, including a question-and-answer session with experts and scientists where solutions were proffered to the challenges the young farmers face in Soybean Production.

The leader of the team of young farmers between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, the chairperson of the Soybean Association of Nigeria South West Zone, Mrs. Yemisi Joluwe, who is also the CEO of YSJ Limited, a leading soybean producer in the State, expressed her appreciation for being part of the event and the pioneer beneficiary of the farmers’ outreach. She promised the young farmers would make judicious use of the opportunity.

Speaking at the event, the beneficiaries appreciated RadioIITA’s team and the scientists for the new knowledge they acquired, and they promised to maximize their opportunities.

The Farmer’s outreach was organized in collaboration with the Soybean Unit and the Business Incubation Platform of IITA.

Contributed by Anu Oyeleye and Dajie Odok