By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Polytechnic has said that it has expended a sum of N13 million on its 20 hectare of maize and cassava farmland.

The polytechnic added that it embarked on aggressive farming this year to ward off encroachers as well as contribute its token to the current food crisis in the country.

The institution’s Rector, Dr Abdul Jimoh told reporters in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, during a symbolic harvesting of the farm produce.

“What led to this idea is to find a way of discouraging or curbing encroachers, thereby utilising the vacant land for agricultural purposes so that we can make food available and affordable for the polytechnic community, surrounding communities and the state at large.

“We cleared 10 hectares initially, when we finished the first ten hectares, we moved to the second phase of another ten hectares, making twenty hectares all together.

“The farming is carried out by the department of Agricultural Technology, Department of Agric Engineering and bio Environmental, under the supervision of a Committee,” he added.

He said part of the proceeds would be ploughed back into farming, while others would be used as internally generated revenue for the institution.

“We used about N10,000,000 for clearing of the land and about N3,000,000 was used in purchase of the seedlings and cassava stems,” Dr Jimoh said.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Tertiary Education Dr Mary Arinde commended the foresight of the institution as craving for food is on increase at all time.

Represented by Director, Research and Development Hajia Rodhiat Yahaya, Dr Arinde added that the initiative would go a long way to solve the food shortage for all.

She added that the initiative would as well address the encroachment challenges being faced by the institution.