The Department of Crop Science and Horticulture has begun farming operations in their permanent field at Ifite-Ogwari, Anambra State. Ag. Head of the Department, Dr. Nneka Okoli, who led students and other members of staff to the flag-off ceremony, appreciated the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone, for providing tractor and other tools for the Faculty of Agriculture which has made farming operations easy.
In line with the Vision-200 of the University, the field will now be a pilot farm for Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and an experimental field for undergraduate and postgraduate student projects. It will also have plantations that will be rich in genetic resource crops like guava, soursop, pawpaw, and mango. High-yielding varieties of cassava like TMS 419 will be planted in 1 hectare while another 1 hectare will be used for the production of vegetables like fluted pumpkin (ugu), pepper, and other local varieties. The HOD, in her final remark, stated that Crop Science Department is now well-positioned to be an Agricultural hub of Nigeria. She, therefore, charged the farm managers to give their best and be committed to the project.