The Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has intensified efforts to diversify its revenue base and deepen practical learning for students with the commencement of cassava harvesting at its commercial farm.
Speaking with journalists during the maiden harvest of cassava at the polytechnic’s commercial farm in Ilorin, the rector, Dr. Abdul Jimoh 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 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”, Mohammed said.
Mohammed said 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 tree cash crop projects was 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 are plans to establish a distinct institutional brand for products including cassava chips, palm oil and cocoa-based products by 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.
Mohammed commended the Kwara State government for providing agricultural equipment to support the project, noting that the intervention had reduced production costs and improved operations on the farm.
The chairperson of the Kwara State Polytechnic Commercial Farm and chief lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Engr. Ruth Modupe 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.
