Benson Idahosa University Sets To Save The Nation As They Plan To Haverst 800,000 Tonnes Of Tomatoes Annually

In this season of Tomatoes price increase  in Nigeria,Benson Idahosa University have decided to take the book out of the class to the field to save the country from this  mess.

Prof. Ernest Izevbigie, the Vice-Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin, said the institution is set to start harvest of an annual 800, 000 tonnes of tomatoes from its farm.
Izevbigie, who spoke during a news conference in Benin on Wednesday, also said the varsity agricultural department had concluded plan to turn out 300, 000 tonnes of grass for grazing annually to arrest community/Fulani herdsmen clashes.

The vice-chancellor noted that shortage of tomatoes in the country had become an embarrassment to the nation.
According to him, the BIU deems it necessary to embark on a research that would make tomatoes available all-year-round.

Izevbigie said the university had already cultivated 10 hectares of the vegetable crop, which was expected to produce 200,000 tonnes in every three months.

“And from our research and findings, we can do this four times in a year and all put together; we will be harvesting 800, 000 tonnes annually. With this, we can ameliorate the challenges posed by shortage of the crop,” he said.
On the grass, Izevbigie said Nigeria could be self sufficient in forage production, noting that the country was blessed with abundant land to achieve this.

He said the BIU was leveraging on the latest technology of forage production, the ‘Hydroponics Technology” to achieve an annual harvest of grass crops.

This is a big improvement in the educational system, moving from the theoretical aspects of the book to the practical aspect.