The delivery of the Bernoni MultiCrop Harvester model of a Combine Harvester, one of the latest equipment for mechanised farm operations and purchased by the Prof. Kolawole Salako-led administration, marks yet another highpoint of the Management’s determination to firmly position FUNAAB as a Centre of Excellence in agricultural education.

This clearly stands FUNAAB out as a leading institution in developing needed manpower in mechanised agriculture not only in Nigeria, but beyond.

According to the Director of University Farms, the Combine Harvester is a versatile machine designed to efficiently harvest a variety of grain crops. It combines the multiple tasks of harvesting, threshing, separating, winnowing, cleaning and collecting wholesome grains in one single operation while

moving through the standing crop. The cleaned grains are stored into a tank from where it is loaded by an auger for bagging in situ. The range of crops harvested by this model include Rice, Wheat, Maize, Soybean, and Sorghum among other crops grown in our environment. The crop residues, consisting of the stems and any remaining leaves of the crop are spread on the field and ploughed back in or used for bedding and livestock feed.

With this addition, the current administration within its three years in office has moved the level of mechanized field operations which hitherto did not go much beyond land preparation and tillage, to the attainment of 100% mechanised operations for the main arable crops of Maize, Rice, Soybean and Cassava. In getting to this point, the other machineries acquired by the administration included the Grains Planter, Fertilizer Applicator or Spreader, Boom Sprayers for the application of Agrochemicals, Cassava Planter, Cassava Harvester and a tractor mounted Loading crane to load harvested Cassava tubers into trucks, on the field. “We are thus moving towards consigning the hoe and the cutlass to the University museum with respect to the cultivation of the crops mentioned” Mr. Olabashola added.