Osun State University has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two Canadian universities to carry out research on the ‘Sustainable Production and Utilisation of Under-utilised Nigerian Vegetables’, a move which will enhance food security.
Under the agreement, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) will study ten varieties of local vegetables in South Nigeria to assess their nutritional content, drought tolerance and disease-resistance.
IDRC stated that the project is aimed at providing tools for better production, processing and marketing of domestically important vegetables.
The project, which has budget of $2.9m, includes a researcher from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, while University of Manitoba and Cape Breton University from Canada.
Osun State University vice chancellor Prof. Bashiru Okesina said that the project is being implemented in five states of Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo in South West Nigeria.
About six underutilized indigenous vegetables in South West Nigeria are being studied in detail to better define their agronomic practices, nutritional and economic value, Okesina added.
These vegetables have been chosen because of their nutritional value and economic benefits of cultivation for farmers.
