*MOUAU Urges Farmers to Embrace Value Addition for Better Nutrition, Increased Income*
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has called on farmers to embrace value addition as a strategic pathway to improved nutrition, reduced post-harvest losses and increased income, as the University reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers with innovative technologies, capacity building and extension services.
The call was made during the 2026 Farmers’ Summit organised by the MOUAU Extension Centre (MEC) at the University Alumni Hall, with the theme, “From Soil to Health: Value Addition for Better Nutrition and Higher Farmers’ Income.”
Speaking at the summit on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Nneoma Elechi Obasi, urged farmers to move beyond primary production by embracing value addition to transform agricultural produce into nutritious, marketable and higher-value products.
The Vice-chancellor described value addition as a key driver of food security, improved public health, reduced post-harvest losses, job creation and increased farmers’ profitability. She further assured participants of the University’s continued support through research-driven innovations, technical assistance and extension services to enhance agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
In his welcome address, the Director of the MOUAU Extension Centre, Professor Uchechi Apụ, said the summit’s theme underscored the vital role of healthy soil in sustainable agriculture and quality food production. He noted that value addition not only improves nutrition and healthier living but also boosts farmers’ income, describing the annual summit as a platform for exposing farmers to emerging technologies and best practices in agricultural production, processing and marketing.
During technical presentations, the Director, MOUAU Centre for Gender, Youth and Child Development (CGYCD), Prof. Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka, advocated climate-smart agriculture and organic soil management to improve productivity and maximise income, while the Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Professor Patricia Ukegbu, highlighted the nutritional, medicinal and economic benefits of value addition, urging farmers to tap into opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Another Agricultural expert from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Dr. Amara Okoye, from her presentation titled, “From Vine to Value: Unlocking the Nutrition and Income Potential of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP),” showcased the nutritional and commercial opportunities available through the processing of OFSP into diverse food products.
Participants also received practical training on snail farming, mushroom cultivation, and the production of organic preservatives, organic pest and weed control solutions using locally available materials.
The farmers commended MOUAU for its unwavering commitment to their development through regular technical training, extension services and the distribution of fertilisers and other farm inputs. They acknowledged that these interventions have significantly improved their productivity and livelihoods and pledged to apply the knowledge gained at the summit to enhance food production, improve product quality and increase their incomes.
