NALDA commissions 35 hectares farm estate in Imo

AS part of its mandate, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commissioned Achara-Ubo Emekuku Integrated Farm Estate in Imo State.

This is just as Prince Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary of NALDA, said that the federal government has also approves the rehabilitation of Songhai Farm and the establishment of 3 new cassava processing plant in Imo State.

He also said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the empowerment of 1000 Imo women in cassava production, 5000 men to benefit from NALDA’s, Central Bank project and N3 million CBN resolving loan to the productive beneficiaries to sustain their farms.

Located in Owerri North local government area, the Achara-Ubo farm estate sits on 35 hectares of arable land with 6 poultry houses with 18 pens that contain about 10,000 birds, 3 goat houses with 196 goats and 3 piggeries containing 108 pigs.

It also boasts of 3 solar powered boreholes, access roads and drainage and solar powered street lights on the farm.

Addressing journalists during the commissioning the estate, Prince Ikonne said the project was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration vision to create jobs for the youth and women to ensure food security.

He noted that the farm will give 600 direct engagement to farmers in poultry, piggery and goatry while 200 additional farmers will be engaged in  the processing, packaging and export.

“Achara-Ubo farm is expected to take in 600 farmers, the processing and packaging section will soon start, which will take in additional 200 people and the crop section will soon start because we have provided the tractors.

“This farm will be a centre that will train farmers within and outside the Imo State and the 200 beneficiaries have been trained and empower with the knowledge and they are the first set of people to benefit from this project and as they pass out in the next 6 months, they will sort their own farming activities and another set of people will come in”, Prince Ikonne said.

The activation of this farm is one of the ways to demonstrate the passion of  President President muhammadu buhari in terms of agriculture,” he said.

He added, “This farm was abandoned for 30 solid years and NALDA took over and development it, the farm is purely the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari to reactivate and reform the farm estate across the country because the president believes that going back to the land is the only way our economy can be sustained and our youth will be gainfully employed to achieve food security and we are very hopeful that the farm will be very productive and that the farmers will begin to earn income.