TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION
2 FPY ORIENTATION DAY I AND II
4 SUMMARY OF FPY LECTURES HELD IN ONE MONTH
5. ACTIVITIES HELD AT LOCATION SITE
6. ACTIVITIES HELD AT LIVESTOCK
7. ACTIVITIES HELD AT CROP SECTION
8. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES DURING ENTERPRISE

INTRODUCTION
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The Farm Practical Year (FPY) Orientation programme is an initiative implemented by the Centre for CommunityBased Farming Scheme (COBFAS) under the auspices of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
for Bachelor of Agriculture Degree candidates at the penultimate year of their programme. The 2016 edition of the
FPY orientation programme took place between Wednesday, February 3rd and Thursday, February 4th 2016. The aim
of this programme is to equip students with first-hand information as regarding COBFAS staff, farm
activities,community history, tradition and norms of the people, courses taught under COBFAS training programme
and students' code of conduct. The Centre for Community-Based Farming Scheme was established by FUNAAB's
governing council in December 17, 2010 to coordinate the implementation of the one year Farm Practical
Programme. A rotational schedule would be adopted for students participating in the 2015/2016 FPY programme as
follows:

Orientation/Instructions/Lecture
1 month (on-campus)
Group I-on- campus training
2 months
Group II-on-campus training
2 months
Group III-In COBFAS Communities
2 months
(Isaga-Orile, Ode-Lemo, Iwoye-Ketu and Odogbolu)
Wrap-up/Field Trip/Examination 1month (on campus)

VISION MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF COBFAS

VISION: To produce highly skilled manpower that will drive the economy in the rural communities in Nigeria
through agriculture for sustainable development and food security.
MISSION: To contribute to sound training of agricultural students toward building great future modern farmers for
sustainable development in line with the mission of FUNAAB.
OBJECTIVES: Some objectives of COBFAS include:
1. Training and capacity building of young agricultural undergraduates for improved and sustainable increase in
agricultural production and productivity.
2. To produce generation of modern farmers that is willing to take up agriculture in the rural communities and impact
positively on the lives of the communities.
3. To accelerate agricultural commercialization and agro-industrial development in the communities.

FPY ORIENTATION DAY I

The 2016 edition of the Farm Practical Year (FPY) Orientation programme began on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
at 9:00am at the FUNAAB Ceremonial Building with opening prayer led by Dr. M.A. Busari, a lecturer from the
department of Soil Science and Land Management (SSLM), College of Plant Science and Crop Production
(COLPLANT). A minute silence was observed for deceased 400 level students. COBFAS staff were introduced, some
of which include:
Dr. E.O. Fakoya

Director, COBFAS

Dr. O.A. Fasae

Deputy Directror

D.D. Giwa

Principal Farm Manager

O.A. Somoye

Agric Officer/Isaga-Orile

O.O. Bello

Senior Agric Officer/Iwoye-Ketu

Taiye Semighan

Agric Officer/Odogbolu

O.O. Omosanyin

Senior Agric Officer/Ode-Lemo

BRIEFING ON THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND (ITF) AND STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK
EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES):
The ITF, established in 1971, is responsible for ensuring the smooth implementation of SIWES in
collaboration with supervising agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for
Technical Education (NBTE), i.e in polytechnics, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The scheme was designed to provide an avenue for students to acquire industrial skills and experience which will help
them compete favourably in the industrial environment after graduation. The scheme lasted for 6 months during which
students under the scheme are entitled to a sum of 2,500 naira only per month which amounts to a sum of 15,000 naira
only for 6 months. The same amount applies to FPY students who, in their own case, undergo one year training.
Students are expected to be good ambassadors of FUNAAB wherever they are posted for training.
ADDRESS BY FUNAAB CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER:
The Chief Security Officer, FUNAAB Mr S.B. Peter spoke to the students on security consciousness.
He said students should ensure they lock their doors before leaving home to prevent theft of their valuables. He
advised against advertisement of phones, laptops and other valuables as well as late night movement by students
especially females. These, he said, they might at risk of being robbed and raped. He cautioned against drug abuse and
alcoholism among students as these, he said, have negative implications on their health, and consequently, academic
performance.
ADDRESS BY FUNAABOT CHAIRMAN:
The chairman, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Bureau on Transportation (FUNNABOT)
addressed the students on how to conduct themselves when boarding the school bus. He said students should always
be on the queue and avoid buying tickets for friends that are not on the queue.
FPY ORIENTATION DAY II
It was announced that, for the 2015/2016 Farm Practical Year (FPY), students would be graded thus:
Attendance- 20 marks
Logbook- 20 marks
Work done- 40 marks
Exams- 20 marks
Total- 100 marks.
SUMMARY OF FPY COURSES TAUGHT DURING THE ONE-MONTH LECTURES
The following courses were taught during the one-month period of lectures:
1. FPY 401- Plantation Crop Production Techniques (Dr. A.L.A. Shotuyo): Nursery production, establishment and
management of cocoa, oil palm, cashew, kolanut, etc.
2. FPY 402- Arable Crop Production Techniques (Dr. T.O. Fabunmi): Site selection; land clearing and preparation
using farm implements. Establishment and production of root and tuber crops, legumes and cereals, fertilizer
application, harvesting, threshing, cleaning, shelling,sorting and grading of maize.
3. FPY 403- Horticultural Crop production (Dr. A.W. Salau): Fruits, vegetables e.g Amaranthus sp, Tomato, etc; site
selection, nursery management, pest/disease control.
4. FPY 404- Soil Fertility and Soil Management Techniques (Dr. M.A. Busari): Plant essential mineral nutrients e.g
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Iron, etc and deficiency symptoms, soil sampling methods and soil water/nutrient
conservation.

5. FPY 405- Crop Protection Techniques (Dr. C.G. Afolabi): Seed dressing of maize, pesticide dosage calculation,
Identification of disease symptoms in maize and cassava.
6. FPY 406- Crop Post-Harvest Techniques (Dr. O.A. Oduwaye): Produce harvesting, treatment, storage
methods/structures and conditions.
7. FPY 412- Monogastric Animal Production (Dr. R.A. Sobayo): Poultry production; breed identification, housing
and hygiene, feed formulation.
8. FPY 413- Pasture production and management (Dr. Mrs. V.O.A Ojo): Pasture management, pasture
establishment techniques; site selection, seed selection and treatment using hot water and conc. H 2SO4 acid.
9. FPY 414- Micro-livestock and fish production techniques (Dr. O.E. Oke): Rabbit breeds, management, feeding
and housing. Fish: site selection, pond construction and management.
10. FPY 421- Farm Management, Farm Records and accounting (Dr A.E. Obayelu): Farm record keeping, financial
statements, farm planning and farm budgeting.
11. FPY 422- Agricultural Extension Practices (Dr. A.K. Aromolaran): Extension trips to rural communities/villages.
12. FPY 431- Farm Design, Farm Survey and Land Use Planning ( Dr. B.A. Senjobi): Farm survey equipment and
uses. Types of survey and mapping.
13. FPY 432- Agricultural Mechanization and Workshop Practice (Engr. I.O. Ola): Concepts of agricultural
mechanization, farm machinery operation and maintenance: Tractor and tractor components.
14. FPY 433- Agricultural Meteorological Practices (Dr. A.A. Makinde): Agricultural meteorological elements and
their observation. Simple layout of agro meteorological station and required weather instruments, procedure of
data collection and simple processing, analysis of agro meteorological information.
15. FPY 441- Organic Agricultural Practices (Dr. S.G. Aderibigbe): Cultural practices- weed, insect pest and disease
control strategies. Soil fertility maintenance strategies, composting composting, benefits of organic agriculture,
knapsack sprayer calibration.
16. FPY499- Programme writing and report ( Dr. A.E. Obayelu): Detailed reports of all activities in the FPY
programme.

LOCATION SITE
Location site for my batch were held at Ishaga - orile area south-north of Abeokuta in Ogun State.
ARRIVALS AT THE LOCATION SITE
We left school environment for location site on the 5 th march, 2016. A journey of about one hour thirty minutes to
two hours, this is a journey of mixed feelings both in anticipation for the new environment and also in anxiety of how
the journey of 2 months stay in an unknown and unfamiliar environment will be.
ENDURANCE TREK
This involves the act of engaging in walking activities (Transport means) by leg from our various hostels to
the farm.

VISIT TO THE OBA OF ISHAGA- ORILE:

We made a courtesy visit to the oba of Ishaga- Orile HRH OBA OLUSOJI TELLA at his residence and after
greeting him, he welcomed us and encouraged us to be good children to our parent and good ambassador of
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FUNAAB.he told us a brief history of ishaga and what we should avoid doing which are tabboo to the
land.later prayers was made and we went home.
ACTIVITIES ON THE LOCATION SITE
Location site are environment were only one out of the two systems that agriculture entails takes place.
Having known that agriculture involves both REARING (animals) and CULTIVATION (crop). Cultivation
aspect of agriculture only takes place on this site.
The crop planted
The crop planted in location site was 3 varieties of vegetables which are: Amaranthus spp, Celosia spp and
Corchorus olitorus.
The operation on these 3 varieties of vegetable are divided into three which are; Pre - planting operation,
Planting operation and Post-planting operation. These 3 operations aforementioned covered all activities on the
location site.
Pre planting operation
These involve activities that took place before planting. They are measures ,strategies or plan that must be
carried out before planting started. Operation under pre planting operation includes;
Factors considered before selecting of our site.
I. Availability of water supply
II. Accessibility to site.
III. Slope or land gradient.
IV. Soil
Land preparation: Vegetables differ widely from field crops in their requirements for Land preparation and cultural
practices because of their differences in their morphologies, growth habit and socioeconomic values. In preparing
land for vegetables production, the following factors are taken into consideration, Ecological location, and mode of
cropping season, crop disposition and the type of vegetable to be grown.
Allocation of plot: A plot of 5m by 5m was allocated for each student. This was done to complement the mapping out
of plot. The tools used are ranging pole, pegs and twine (used in demarcation of assigned plot).
Clearing: Removing of previous crops and undergrowth, cutting back the woody shrubs and trees. Machete/cutlass is
used for clearing in a small scale production, while heavy machine like bulldozer is used in a commercial production.
Leveling: When site has been cleared uneven land may have to be leveled. This facilitate the process of ploughing,
harrowing, ridging and layout of the site.
Tillage: Used for manual or mechanical manipulation of the soil to prepare it for use. In vegetables production, the
main objectives for tillage are to secure increased growth and yields, to obtain suitable seed bed, to eliminate
competition with weeds during early growth, improve the physical condition of the soil and conserve its water and
nutrient content.
Planting operation
The sowing/planting of vegetable seeds or nursery of seed; Nursery process were not carried out on our vegetable
crop but sown directly on the beds made. The making of bed is of two types in vegetables planting which are raised
bed and sunken bed.

Sunken bed where made which are close to the water level of the soil. The method of planting in vegetables are, direct
sowing, broadcasting and seed drilling.

Method used
Seed drilling method: this is a method for planting small seeded vegetables in rows shallow furrow which
are made at the spacing of 0.3m. This method is used for our leafy vegetables planted, Amaranthus spp, Celosia spp,
Corchorus olitorus. 0.3m inters row and 0.5m intra row.
The seed was mixed through with fine sand. A good quantity of fine sand is mixed with and then sown using seed
drilling method.

ROUTINE OPERATION
Thinning: thinning of vegetable is done to reduce the number of seedlings per stand when planted.
Supplying: this is the practice of providing missing stands vegetables planted by direct sowing as a result of
poor emergence or when seedling are damaged by pest. The essence of seed supply is to maintain correct
plant population.
Watering: one of the most crucial input in vegetable production in any season farming and nursery
establishment is water. In dry season the source of water is through irrigation (alternative water supply)
while in the wet season, rainfall is the source of water. Watering is done early in the morning or late in the
evening.
Fertilizer Application: application of organic fertilizer like compost manure, poultry droppings, animal dung
are applied after mineralization.
Weeding: plant that grows where its not wanted. They reduces yield up to 40-60% if not controlled.
Pest and diseases control: insect and diseases infestation in vegetable crop brings about heavy losses by yield
reduction.
Harvesting of vegetable: Separation of the portion needed from the mother plant; this is carried out once or
overtime or repeatedly; leafy vegetables may be harvested by total removal or by ratooning.
POST -HARVEST CULTURAL PRACTICES
These are activities carried out after harvesting till disposal; they include preservation, processing, storing, and
marketing.
Marketing: this is a major post- harvest practices carried out. Marketing which is a process of carrying out
activities to add value. The main target of marketing is the consumers which aids in accessing storage. The
marketing price has given by the university to be
Floor price = N1000
Ceiling price = N1500
Other planting activities that took place at location site include; planting of cassava on a 10m by 10m on
allocated plot of land; having followed the three categories of cultural practices effected on vegetable crop with little
adjustment or changes. Cassava (manihot spp), it is propagated by stem cutting i.e. asexual means of propagation. It
does not required bed making but planted on ridges, mounds, or on flat surface. The planting space is 1m. It is a root
and tuber crops. Most of the routine management is also employed to cassava plot. Other activities done are nursery
making of garden egg for the coming batch, harvesting of existing cassava plot from our predecessor, Processing of
maize; it includes shelling, winnowing, bagging, and weighing. Community services at the obas palace which involve
the clearing of surrounding bushes.
LIVESTOCK UNIT

The livestock unit was situated at the campus site close to colanim farm. The core enterprise in this unit is
broiler production and management. Broiler chicken is mainly reared for meat production.
Poultry at large refers to group of birds reared for food and other purposes. Quite a number of them are
domesticated fowl, turkey, goose, guinea fowl and duck. They are non-ruminant animals.
Breeding and hatching fertilized egg are incubated for twenty one days using incubator after which the eggs
are hatched into young chicks. The chicks immediately after hatching are sent to the brooders. The brooder house is
an enclose entity or an apartment separated where newly hatched chicks are collected into for receiving extra heat.
PREPARATION OF BROODING PEN OR HOUSE
1. Clean and disinfect or fumigate the brooding room before the arrival of the chicks
2. The floor brooder house should be made of concrete and with the walls made of rat roof
3. Covering the floor with wood shavings before arrival of chicks
4. Availability of clean feeders, waterers, source of heat (stoves, charcoal pot) Starter chick mash (feed)
and some anti-stress drugs
5. Provision of warmth (heat energy) with charcoal pot
The broiler chick is then brought in at room temperature of about 32 OC to 35OC lowered by 0.2OC per
day and a relative humidity of 50% to 70%
NEONATAL DAILY MANAGEMENT OR DAILY ROUTINE MANAGEMENT
1. Washing of drinkers
2. Serving of water mixed with drugs
3. Cleaning of feeders plates
4. Serving of broilers feed
5. Culling of dead chicks from the floor
6. Packing of wet litters and spreading of fresh wood shavings
7. Cleaning of pen surroundings
8. Observation of behavioral response of chicks to feeding, drinking and also to stimulus
9. Color of faeces (grey with white cap)
OCCASSIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN BROILER PRODUCTION
Vaccination: This is the inoculation with a vaccine in order to protect from particular disease or strain of
disease
Culling: This is a process of selecting for acceptance or removal
Despuring: This is the removal of spike pointing rearward near the foot for instance that of a rooster
Debeaking: This is the removal of part of the beak of a chicken or other bird to prevent pecking in chicken
farms
FEEDING REGIME
Broiler starter 0 - 4 weeks 23%cp, 2800 2900 k/cal
Broiler finisher 5- 8 weeks 19%cp, 3000 k/cal
Other unit in livestock includes rabbitry, piggery, small ruminant and fishery management. Some other operations
executed include hay making, castration, milking and sexing of small ruminant animals.
THE BROODING ROOM

CROP UNIT (IFESERAR)

Briefing on the code of conduct by the farm managers Mr. Adeoye Adeniyi and Mr. Tope Adesipo on crop enterprise.
Allocations of plots inherited from the last batch (batch c), this was shared for us to manage
The size of the allocated plot is 10x10m of a maize plantation
Routine management carried out on the plot includes
Thinning
Fertilizer Application
Weeding
Insecticide Application
Mapping out and Allocation of plot: the siting of new plot for allocation for we the current batch was situated at
ifserar along mawuko (mini campus).
The clearing of selected site was done with tractors and also carrying out ploughing
Allocation of plot was done by the farm manager. A plot size of 10x10m was allocated to each student for the whole
location (Batch A).
Stumping operation was done by removing roots of trees from the plot allocated.
Leveling of land was done which involve the breaking of hard pan of soil and leveling of the plot follows suit.
Soil sampling collection: it involves collecting of soil samples from different points of the plot for experiment process
to determine nutrient availability in the soil.
Coordinate taking: each coordinate of the point was recorded down using GPS device.
Construction of farm stead: the use of bamboo, palm frond and strong wood were used in the construction.
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Planting of maize: this involve the sowing of maize seed using sexual means of propagation 2 - 3 seeds per hole,
75cmx25cm at 2 4cm depth. Temperature 26-30OC
Enterprise section was held at the following places on every Wednesday
Agrometerological station
Pasture and range management unit
Works and service (tractor driving)
Audio visual lab
Harvesting of inherited maize plot
Weeding of maize plot planted
Grading of soil sample by Dr. Busari

CONCLUSION: It is expected that, with the recently concluded FPY orientation programme/one month lectures,
students have been well informed and prepared for activities they would most likely engage in during the Farm
Practical Year.

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RECOMMENDATIONS
It will speak well of a big and well pronounced body like COBFAS to increase the level of mechanization of the
farming operation initiated so that they can meet their targeted aims and objectives of the FPY program. For if this
style of farming continues where modern farmer we tag ourselves to be cant operate virtually all the farming
implements effectively.

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