Varsity invests N20m on mechanised farming to boost productivity

Al-Hikmah University Ilorin has invested a total of N20 million into various mechanised farming projects in the state to boost agricultural productivity and to create a veritable source of income generation to support existing gap in funding the institution.

Mohammed Taofeek Ibrahim, vice chancellor, of the University disclosed this in his speech delivered at the seventh convocation of the institution recently.

“Funding and income generation continue to pose serious challenges for our development,” Ibrahim said

“About N20 million was injected into the first phase of our farm project this year. This has been invested into the purchase of various farm machineries such as riggers, harrow, plough, boom sprayer, tipping tractors and multi-purpose planter with fertilizer applicator, fertilizer and herbicides. We hope to harvest large quantities of maize and soybeans, as well as process cassava into fufu flour, garri, industrial starch in the next harvesting season,” the vice chancellor added.

The establishment of private Universities in Nigeria according to Ibrahim is basically to compliment government efforts on the provision of higher institutions and not for profit making.

“It is ironical that both state and federal government are yet to buy into funding of private Universities, in the erroneous belief that we are high income generating institutions. The truth is, we barely manage to survive after the necessary core finances of salaries, overheads, basic infrastructures and other facilities.

“It should be noted that major source of our funding is from students school fees, founder’s support and relatively small income generation from extra-curricular activities,” he stated.

Speaking further, Ibrahim pointed out that despite the enormous quantities of food consumption on daily basis, the government and private sector investment and attention to agriculture remains abysmally low. Saying, “It is un-imaginable and ridiculous that we had begun to import garri’ from India into the Nigerian market.”

“Whereas, arable farm lands are most glaring as nature’s most abundant resources in every village, town and suburbs of cities in Nigeria, rather than tap the potentials in these resources and develop them to create wealth, youths and adults alike abandon the wealth -laden resources and migrate to the cities.

He called on relevant stakeholders to improve on tapping on the untapped natural resources in Nigeria so as to further develop the country.

 

SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin