The Commercial Farm Crop Production Unit (C.F.C.P.U) of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, (ESPOLY) was established to tackle the challenges emanating from waning subsistent agricultural practices. The human population increase in the country calls for prompt action and decisive approach to challenge food scarcity and inadequate raw materials for industries. The Commercial Farm Crop Production Unit is involved with large-scale production of crops for sale and wide spread distribution of farm produce to wholesalers and/or retail outlets, ensuring food for growth and improved health for both human and livestock, fibre for protection against the (harsh) elements, chemicals for well-being and products for psychological and aesthetic comfort. Commercial crop production is the large scale cultivation of crops on a land area of 5 hectares and above. At a moment in ESPOLY three major groups of crop plants are considered in production as commercial crop enterprise ventures – Arable (Field Crops), Permanent (Tree Crops) and Horticultural (Vegetable Crops).
ARABLE CROPS:
Maize – Zea mays
Rice – Oryza sativa
Cowpea – Vigna unquiculata
Soybean – Glycine max
Groundnut – Arachis hypogeae
Pigeon pea – Cajanus cajan
Cassava – Manihot esculentus
Yam – Diocorea spp
Sweet Potato – Ipomoea batatas
Sesame (Beniseed)- Sesamum indicum
Ginger – Zingiber officinale
Cocoyam – Colocasia/Xanthosoma spp
PERMANENT CROPS:
Oil palm – Elaeis guineensis
Coconut – Cocos nucifera
Cocoa – Theobroma cacao
Kolanut – Cola nitida, C. acuminate
Plantain – Musa paradisiaca
Banana – Musa sapientum
Mango – Mangifera indica
Cashew – Anacardium occidentale
Rubber – Hevea brassiliensis
Citrus – Citrus spp
Pawpaw – Carica papaya
Irvingia (Ogbono) – Irvingia gabonensis
Guava – Psidium guajava
Moringa – Moringa oleifera
HORITICULTURAL CROPS:
Cabbage – Brassica olcracea
Lettuce – Lactuca candatus
Amaranth – Amaranthus candatus
Corchorus – Corchorus olitorius
Tomato – Lycopersicum esculentum
Okra – Hibiscus esculenta
Water Melon – Colocynthis vulgaris
Carrot – Daucus carota
Green beans – Phaseolus vulgaris
Telfairia – Telfairia occidentale
Egg plant – Solanum melongena
Melon (Egusi) – Citrullus lanatus
Zobo – Hibiscus sabdariffa
Basil – Ocimum basilicum
Water leaf – Talinum triangulare
Pineapple – Ananas sativa
Red Pepper – Capsicum frutescens
Green Pepper – Capsicum annum
Onion – Alium cepa
Bitter leaf – Vernonia amygdalina
STAFF DISPOSITION:
The field staff of C.F.C.P.U of ESCAI includes
Sir Offor, Patrick C. – Farm manager
Mr. Eze Emmanuel I. – Plant Protectionist
Mr. Agu Chimezie J. – Agronomist
Engr. Aniakor Chinonso A. Agricultural Engineer
Engr. Abba Ifeanyi C. – Mechanical Engineer
WORK SCHEDULE
The Commercial Farm Crop Production Unit embarked on the production of 50 hectares of maize, ginger, cassava, sesame (Beniseed) and soybean. The farm site is in blocks of 5 hectares each, allocated appropriately suitable for arable, tree, or horticultural crop plants for the crops optimum yield.
APICULTURE:
The forest density level of any of the 5 hectares will be considered an advantage for honey bee production as commercial enterprise.
STUDENT PRACTICALS:
The ESPOLY students farm practicals addressed by the field staff of C.F.C.P.U, prepares and the students to be balanced Agricultural Technologists, both in theory and practice.
COOPERATIVE FARMERS:
The cooperative farmers in ESPOLY community are being carried along with their farm challenges, with the unit guiding the farmers and teaching them the benefit of crop enterprise. It is important to ascertain the technical feasibility and economic viability of choice of crop enterprise of the various cooperative farmers in other to avert woe stories of crop failure as a result of inadequate study of the crop agronomy before cultivation.
AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION:
The C.F.C.P.U also is poised for participation and display of agricultural products in State and National Agricultural Shows for informal education of farmers and to sensitize interest in commercial agriculture.
