Governor Abiodun approves Moshood Abiola Polytechnic for anchor borrowers programme, allots 100 hectares of land
The Ogun State Government has approved 100 hectares of land within the campus of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,(MAPOLY) Abeokuta for the launch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Initiative.
Penpushing reports that, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Samson Odedina made this known in statement on Friday, adding that this was government efforts to boost agricultural production in Ogun state.
The Commissioner said, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) initiative is set to increase farmer’s productivity and turn the state to the food basket of the nation thereby increasing general consumption and national development, adding that presently, about 60 hectares of land have been cleared in the institution out of the 100 hectares allocated for Anchor Borrowers programme in cassava cultivation.
Penpushing further reports that he said, land clearing exercise in Moshood Polytechnic, Abeokuta, as one of the sites selected for beneficiaries was mainly for cultivation of cassava, stating that, a hectare of land would be allotted to Entrepreneurship students as a way of empowering the youths and encouraging young Entrepreneurs in farming as well as interested members of Staff of the Polytechnic.
“The focus of agriculture in the state is to link farmers to industries, and get raw materials from them and the Government cannot do it alone, that is why we are doing the Public-Private Partnership,” he said.
“We have off-takers (representatives of industries and factories) in our midst to off-take cassava from the farmers, as the CBN is ready to make the State a model for cassava production in Nigeria, as the success of the State in cassava production would be replicated in other states in the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Adeoye Odedeji, has commended the state government for inclusion of the institution in the scheme stressing that, this opportunity would enhance smooth and speedy actualization of the proposed Agricultural Technology department in the Institution.
