Covenant University diversifies into agriculture, cultivates 1,000 hectares of plantations

As part of extension services, which a university is expected to offer in addition to academics and research, the Covenant University (CU), Otta in Ogun state, has established about 1,000 hectares of plantations, cultivating both cash and food crops such as cassava, plantain, oil palm, water melon, cucumber, pawpaw, tomatoes, pepper and vegetable, among others.

According to Oladejo Oladipo, farm supervisor, Covenant University Farms, establishment of 300 hectares of cassava plantation; 250 hectares of oil palm and several other plantations which are located in three places, namely, Canaan Land, Igbesa and Oko-Omi in Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area of Ogun state, started about three years ago.

The supervisor of Covenant University Farms, who disclosed the cultivation of about 1,000 hectares of plantations by the university management, said that the agricultural project was borne out of the missionary-owned institution’s desire to deepen extension services by inculcating agriculture-based entrepreneurial skills into its students.

He said, apart from entrepreneurial skills acquisition targeted at the institution’s students, the Covenant University Farms creates wealth and employment through the agricultural project, adding that the agricultural production, processing and packaging of various farm produce undertaken by the university would also contribute to the nation’s gross domestic product.

RAZAQ AYINLA