A former director at the Directorate of Environmental Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Dr Akinpelu Ojo, has called for the transformation of university farms into innovation hubs capable of driving food production and sustainable revenue generation.
Ojo made the call during the 2026 Pre-Season Farming Seminar organised by the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS) at the institution. Speaking on the theme, “The University Farm as an Incubation Ground for Innovation and Revenue Generation,” he noted that university farms must evolve beyond their traditional roles into centres for research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration.
He identified key areas for innovation, including research and development, student entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary partnerships. According to him, operators of university farms should explore commercial agricultural production, value addition, agro-processing, consultancy services, research collaborations, agritourism, and intellectual property commercialisation.
Ojo also highlighted major challenges facing university farms, such as inadequate funding, weak industry linkages, climate change, environmental risks, and limited commercial orientation. To address these issues, he recommended adopting agribusiness models, integrating modern technologies, strengthening partnerships, promoting student-led enterprises, and building sustainable value chains.
Reflecting on the growth of DUFARMS, he paid tribute to the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, whose vision led to the establishment of the university farm, and acknowledged milestones achieved by successive administrations, including the expansion of cashew and oil palm plantations and the development of processing facilities.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Babatunde Kehinde, described the seminar as timely and essential. He stressed the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning in achieving institutional goals.
Kehinde urged staff to scale up activities, particularly in livestock production such as poultry, beef, pork, and egg production, to enhance the visibility and impact of university farms. Participants at the seminar reaffirmed their commitment to repositioning DUFARMS as a centre for innovation, practical training, and sustainable revenue generation.
