BIU TO PRODUCE 800,000 TONNES OF TOMATOES, SAYS “NO” TO GRASS IMPORTATION
In line with its core purpose to ‘Lead the Change’ in teaching, research and capacity building, Benson Idahosa University is set to produce 800,000 tonnes of tomatoes to ameliorate the present food crisis in the country.
Speaking at a Press Briefing held at the University Senate Chamber, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest B. Izevbigie, while describing the Federal Government’s decision to import grass from Brazil to ameliorate the ongoing hardship in livestock feeds as laughable, charged the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology on the need to go into large scale propagation of tomatoes, poultry and livestock feeds. He noted that the Federal Government’s policy on the importation of grass will put further pressure on the naira against the dollar.
Speaking further he said, as a University driven by research, the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology has the capacity and man power to produce 300 tons of grass yearly, adding that Nigeria is blessed with quality grass land.
Prof. Izevbigie therefore called on the Federal Government to renege on his proposed grass importation with the hash tag, #GoGreenNotBrazil