Kwara State Polytechnic Harvests 25 Tonnes of Maize, Valued at N30 Million
The Kwara State Polytechnic has successfully harvested 25 tonnes of maize from its farm, a yield valued at approximately N30 million based on current market surveys.
This significant harvest represents about 10% of the maize that enters one of Ilorin’s major grain markets at Ago daily.
The Rector of the institution, Dr. Abdul-Jimoh Mohammed, made the announcement on Thursday during the farm’s harvest, recounting how the polytechnic turned a land encroachment challenge into a productive venture.
He revealed that the institution’s cassava crop is also expected to yield an estimated 180 tonnes when harvested later in the year.
“Today, we are harvesting our first farm produce, and I believe it is necessary to make it public,” Dr. Mohammed stated. “It’s our response to the challenge by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to maximize the potential of our institutions, and we intend to sustain this process.”
Dr. Mohammed explained that the farming initiative began as a strategic response to land encroachment issues faced by the polytechnic.
By engaging in commercial farming, the institution has not only reduced the vacant land susceptible to encroachment but also contributed to food availability and affordability for the polytechnic community and the wider Kwara State population.
“We started by cultivating 20 hectares, initially clearing 10 hectares and later another 10 hectares, where we planted cassava and maize. We plan to plant soybeans towards the end of the rainy season, as advised,” Dr. Mohammed elaborated.
The Rector also shared the institution’s future plans to further expand its farming activities. “Come next rainy season, the management is planning to cultivate another 20 hectares.
We are also considering leasing spaces for farming to interested members of the public. Although we are still working on the modality for this arrangement, the management will forward whatever modality we agree on to the governor, who has been encouraging us on this initiative through our supervising ministry.”
Dr. Mohammed expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tertiary Institutions for its support, noting that the farming initiative has been instrumental in reducing encroachment on the institution’s land.
He emphasized that the success of the polytechnic’s agricultural projects demonstrates the potential of educational institutions to contribute significantly to local food production and economic development.
The Kwara State Polytechnic’s venture into commercial farming is seen as a model for other institutions, highlighting how challenges can be transformed into opportunities for growth and community development.
