The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commenced the development of a new Integrated Farm Estate in Kwara state with a target of engaging over 2000 farmers in farming, including animal husbandry, to generate millions of Naira annually.
The farm estate is located on 100 hectares of land in Agbeyangi Community East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne while addressing residents of the community, highlighted NALDA’s plan for the farm estate, noted that it would be one of the biggest cultivation of yam, cassava and maize farming; also, a portion of the land would be for goat, rabbit and grasscutter rearing, processing, and packaging.
“We are here to inspect and accept officially the 100 hectares of land donated by this community for NALDA’s integrated farm estate which the president mandated us to develop in all the senatorial zones to achieve food security and create Job”
“The contractor has done a very good job in clearing the provided land and the community as well is willing and ready, to be engaged in this commendable landmark of the federal government. This also has afforded us the opportunity to educate the community that this project belongs to them.”
He said the farm would be known for three major crops which are going to be cultivated on 80 per cent of the land, including maize, cassava, yam and in the section of the animal husbandry, he said it would be looking at producing grasscutters, rabbits and goats in large quantities and processing them for commercial purposes.
Ikonne further stated that the farm estate will also have an irrigation system that would provide farming all year round. He added that the project will engage more than 2000 people, both men and women, into the farm from production to processing and packaging.
“This will empower the youth and women. The desire of the President is to ensure that our youths are engaged and attracted into the agricultural business. Everything that is needed to start this farm is available,
“Another benefit is food security by the virtue of what they will be processing because they have natural resources, the environment is very conducive
“We will have all-year-round production. We will produce enough first for the community to have enough to eat, then it goes out to the state then to other states, the benefits are beyond the community.
Ikonne further stated that “if we have this in every community, Nigeria will be on auto-drive to achieving food security, saying the project is not about politics, it has nothing to do with ruga or no ruga it is purely community based and if you are not from this community you will not participate”.
“This project is not for the political reason the president because of his passion wants to achieve food security before leaving office, he does not want to leave Nigeria the way he inherited it, so he wants to use agriculture to reduce unemployment.
“It is something that every community that has land should key into for their benefit, you can see that the place is opening up, it can no longer be a hiding place for criminals when there is development there is hope for the people”.
The NALDA boss while urging communities to key into the project, said “the project is not supposed to be used for politics or to distract people from getting involved, rather am encouraging every community to key into it as this community has keyed into it.
He noted that if a state does not show interest no matter how willing the community is to give the land, it will be difficult for FG to come in.
He said with the presence of the Farm Estate in the community, it would first develop the community, create jobs for the people, increase their incomes through agriculture, increase the GDP such that their standard of living would improve greatly.”
Earlier, Prince Ikonne and other officials visited the palace of the traditional head, the Alangua of Agbeyangi, Aliyu Baba, to intimate him of the activities of NALDA and how it would benefit the members of the community.
The traditional ruler expressed appreciation and promise to support the project to see that it succeed in his lifetime.
Responding on behalf of the community, Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir said the 100 hectares of land was donated to NALDA by Agbeyangi and Eleyode community to wipe away poverty, unemployment, food insufficiency, disease and insecurity from the community and other communities in Kwara state.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to activate the implementation process of the project by NALDA.
According to him, the land provided for the project is a plain terrain with rich soil with the potential to access surface and subterranean water supply to galvanize all forms of agricultural practices slated for the achievement of the project’s development objective.
“This community promise its cooperation with the government through the NALDA in areas of providing protection for the plant and equipment to be installed to ensure its success.”
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