Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The management of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin yesterday said that the institution would continue to complement the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration agricultural policy in the task of ensuring food security for the people of the state.
The management said that the policy of the present administration led to the provision of agricultural equipment while the intervention had reduced production costs and improved operations of farming in the state.
The Rector of the institution, Dr. Jimoh Mohammed stated this in Ilorin yesterday during the annual harvest of the institution’s large scale farmland containing cassava and maize.
He said that agriculture remains a critical sector capable of generating employment, increasing food production and driving economic development.
“What we are witnessing today is just the beginning. Agriculture provides enormous opportunities for employment, ensures food availability and serves as a reliable source of income. That is why we have decided to invest in it”, the rector said.
He noted that the institution’s management has intensified efforts to diversify its revenue base and deepen practical learning for students with the commencement of commercial cassava harvesting at the institution’s commercial farm.
Mohammed said that the effort marked a significant step in the institution’s drive to combine academic training with agricultural entrepreneurship while supporting food security in Nigeria.
Mohammed, who said that the institution, intentionally, ventured into commercial agriculture to reduce dependence on government funding, added that the venture was also embarked upon to create additional income and expose students to practical farming experience.
He stated that the institution had already embarked on large-scale cultivation of cassava and maize, while simultaneously developing cocoa and oil palm plantations as part of a broader agricultural expansion programme.
According to him, the cash crop projects were designed as long-term investments that would continue to benefit the institution well beyond the tenure of the current administration.
“We have started with cassava and maize, and we have also expanded to cocoa and oil palm plantations. These are investments that will outlive this administration because good leadership is about planning beyond your tenure”, he said.
The rector also said that the Department of Food Science and Technology would process farm produce from the commercial farm into finished products to maximise value addition and strengthen the institution’s internally generated revenue.
He also said that there were plans to establish a distinct institutional brand for products including cassava chips, palm oil and cocoa-based products by the Food Science and Technology Department of the institution, expressing confidence that the initiative would improve students’ practical knowledge while opening new income streams for the polytechnic.
The rector noted that proceeds from the cassava harvest would be reinvested to sustain and expand the commercial farming project, stressing that profitability in agriculture requires patience because of the huge initial investment involved.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the Kwara State Polytechnic Commercial Farm and Chief Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Ruth Bayeri, described the maiden cassava harvest as a landmark achievement for the institution.
She praised the rector for supporting the project from its conception and ensuring its successful implementation.
She expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the harvest, saying it had justified the institution’s investment in commercial agriculture.
Bayeri explained that beyond revenue generation, the commercial farm was established to equip students with practical agricultural skills while contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural development.