Breaking the Chain of Poverty, CAFFTECH Ijeda-Ijesa Flags Off 300 Tons Per Month Capacity Mushroom Production and Processing Green House

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The College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Technology (CAFFTECH), Ijeda-Ijesa, Osun State in collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture has commissioned its facility for the production and processing of mushrooms. The 300 tons per month capacity green house is meant to export processed mushrooms produced for export by young farmers trained by the college.

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The College has an offtake agreement with Foare Mushroom Farms Global LLC, an arrangement to buy the processed mushrooms to secure the market and revenue stream for the youth farmers involved.

Speaking at the flag off of the multimillion Naira project in Ijeda on Wednesday, the Chairman of the occasion, A.V.M. Oluranti Abosede (rtd), congratulated Otunba (Dr) Gabriel Emiola Ogunsanya who is the founder and promoter of the institution, for his great initiative for the young trained farmers to become successful in life through mushrooms production and processing for export while noting that only a few Nigerian farmers are aware of the goldmine in cultivating and harvesting mushrooms for food and commercial purposes.

Mrs. C. O. Ogunsanya while presenting the College remarked that since June 2021, that the College took off with 200 students, it has being engaging in youth empowerment with modern agricultural skills, tools, and technology for business growth and sustainability through agricultural empowerment programs. Courses being run by the college include Fish Value Chain, Arable Crop Farming, Tree Crop Production, Food Technology, Livestock Production, Vegetable Production, Agricultural Cooperatives, and Agricultural Produce Marketing.

The Goodwill message of the Minister of Agriculture presented by Engr. Atoyebi, the State Director, emphasized that the youth are the strength of a nation, as he solicited for continuous adequate education for the young trained farmers to succeed in this business venture and formed themselves in cooperative groups.

Stakeholders present at flag-off ceremony included the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development represented by Engr. Atoyebi, Osun Commissioner for Agriculture and Food productivity represented by Hon. Desmond Ojo. The Bank of Agriculture, the National Agency for Food and Drug Control  (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) also sent representative that enlightened the trainees.

On her part Mrs Sulaiman from NAFDAC, remarked that the agency is delighted with the organizers of the program and happy to associate with the college while imploring the producers to implement best method and standard of processing, packaging and registration.

Mrs. Owojori of Standard Organization of Nigeria affirmed that the organization is ready to partner with the initiative while assuring that the potential of the project is positive. 

The highlight of the day also included a mini-training session on the rudiments of mushroom farming.

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Oladimeji Lasore (+234703105413) reporting from Ijeda-Ijesa