Don Calls For Increase In Research Funding

UYO

A professor of agricultural and food engineering at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) has called for continuous support and increase funding for research in the nation’s universities.

Professor Akindele Alonge made the call at the 87th inaugural lecture of the institution which recently took place at the 1000 capacity TETfund auditorium, University of Uyo main campus, Nwaniba Road, Uyo.

Delivering the lecture, on the topic, Eating What Is Good: The Agricultural and Food Engineers Perspective the 87th inaugural lecturer, said that eating what is good involved chain of processes that have to do with production, processing, preservation and packaging before the food gets to the table.

In the 78 page lecture, Professor Akindele Alonge explained that while some food could be eaten raw, with less processing, many undergo preparation. He recommended that no serious agricultural production could take without mechanization which involves agricultural engineering being an important discipline for innovation and delivery of solution to various aspects of food security.

He stressed the need for the reduction of postharvest losses to the barest minimum and advocated the location of projects to where other variables that could make such industries perform optimally, available.

The professor of agriculture summed up the lecture to postulate that eating what is good was a sine qua non to good living, but in the process of eating what is good, emphasis should be made in realizing that agricultural and food engineers have major roles to play.

Professor Alonge said there was need to modernize agriculture by leveraging on digital technology to improve production;processing, storage and packaging of products while government at all levels should provide an enabling environment, good road network and other infrastructure for agricultural production.

The 87th inaugural lecturer opined that the best way to alleviate hunger, poverty and malnutrition, was to promote agricultural production in the country

In his remarks, the vice chancellor, Professor Nyaudo Ndaeyo,said the 87th inaugural lecturer, had done justice to the topic, in the choice, approach and delivery.

He explained that the issue discoursed in the lecture was apt, considering the recession in the country, a situation he pointed out could force the people to consume whatever could solve the challenge of hunger without minding the quality of the food.

Professor Nyaudo stressed the need for food consumers to strictly note that what they take in as food was good enough to sustain good health and as well eliminate hunger, as the consequences of eating what is bad could spell health insecurity.