Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has said it is committed to advancing agriculture expertise and enhancing food security in the country.
The vice chancellor, Maduebibisi Iwe, stated this yesterday at the flag-off of the 2025 Greenhouse-grown tomatoes and pepper harvest season under the Smart Agriculture Initiative.
Represented by the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), Nneoma Obasi, Iwe said the initiative was aimed at addressing supply gaps of the produce in the South East and beyond.
He said: “The MOUAU Greenhouse Initiative is not solely about production but also serves academic purposes by supporting teaching, research and learning among others.”
Iwe, who emphasised the nutritional importance of the produce, described them as rich sources of essential micronutrients crucial for combating hidden hunger across households.
Supervisor of the initiative, Mabel Onwuka, said the crops were planted last April and had already grown beyond the MOUAU community.
She described the MOUAU Greenhouse model as a climate-controlled, high-yield and sustainable solution capable of transforming local production and distribution systems.
Onwuka, who is also the director of the Centre for Gender, Youth and Child Development, emphasized the socio-economic relevance of the project to the society.
She urged South East governments to adopt the initiative across the local government areas to reduce the region’s long-standing dependence on the produce from other parts of the country.
