AAU Acquires Land For Agric

22.03.2008

Authorities of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State have acquired 100 acres of land for agricultural purpose at Idoani in Ose Local Government area of the state.

The land, donated free to the institution by Chief Alfred Bandele Alabi, who is also the Asara of the community, was part of the effort of the university to boost agriculture and increase food production in the country. A statement made available to Saturday on Thursday said the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Philip Abiodun, led other principal officers of the school to sign the land documents.

Alabi said he donated the land "for the purposes of education, educational attainments, research and dissemination of information." He added, "I am glad to say that AAU has been utilising the land since 2004 with experimental plants such as palm trees, plantain and teak trees.

Vehicles bearing the design of the university are visible features on the road from Idoani to Aba Asara." While stressing the importance of agriculture in national development, the community leader regretted that the country had not yet engaged fully the land the nation is blessed with.

He decried the alleged neglect of the cash crops - particularly cocoa, palm products and rubber - adding that with optimum use of the land, the university would improve and change the techniques and method of farming.