‘THERE seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth….The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favour, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry,” is a popular statement attributed to Benjamin Franklin, which aptly describes the important place of agriculture in a country’s quest for development.
When in May 2017 the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through its governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, announced that it would support agricultural investment in Shonga Farms Holdings Limited, Kwara State, with a N2billion loan under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme, a positive feather was automatically added to the cap of national development, in the light of economic diversification through agriculture. Established under the Public Private Partnership initiative of the administration of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who was governor of Kwara State at the time, and cited at Edu Local Government Area of the state, Shonga Farms Holdings Limited was birthed following the invitation of farmers from Zimbabwe – they were said to have been sent away from farms in Zimbabwe in the 2000s, as a result of Robert Mugabe’s policy of reacquiring farmlands from white farmers – as part of efforts to contribute to ensuring quality food production in Kwara State, a move which did much to improve employment generation. The foresight of Dr Saraki has never been in doubt considering the transforming influence he has brought to the state through the years. One of which is the Shonga Farms Holdings Limited.
Now in its twelfth year of operation – Shonga Farms commenced operations in 2005 – things had not always been this easy as the venture experienced hiccups in its first two years. When Shonga Farms laid its foundation in Edu Local Government Area, there were misgivings from the residents, whose fears were mostly founded on the notion that government was selling off their lands to foreigners, and as such, the reluctance to release the lands were rife. However, with efforts geared towards Corporate Social Responsibility, such as provision of welfare-improvement endeavours, as well as accessibility to free technology to local farmers, many soon saw the gains of the establishment of the farms.
Shonga Farms is involved in the production of crops for commercial purposes, some of which include: maize, rice, cassava, ginger and soya beans. As well as supplying to big names in the milk and poultry industry, the farms have also been very involved in educating and supporting local farmers in their quest to bring to bear expertise in agricultural practices in order to improve food production, increase income and eradicate poverty. The farm operates on providing feed for its poultry while the milk section provides its sillage. Cheese exportation is also big on the activities of the Farms, as well as cassava chips exportation, which has been done to countries such as Israel, Australia, and Hong Kong. Interestingly, Shonga Farms is the only Nigerian company that has been involved in exporting cassava chips at that level of operation.
Through collaborations with the North, South-South, South-East and South-West regions of Nigeria, Shonga Farms Holdings is contributing in no small way to ensure that food security for the Nigerian populace is guaranteed. This is only made all the more realistic by the availability of modern and latest technological equipment to boost agricultural activities.
Aside the production of crops and livestock for commercial purposes and the provision of technology to local farmers, Shonga Farms Holdings Limited is also working actively on research efforts, especially in the areas of breeding and genetics in order to boost production, using the realities of the available resources, in terms of what is adaptable to the Nigerian environment, to its advantage.
In spite of the challenges of funding – this has received a major boost by the CBN loan – and weather conditions, it is only expected that an institution that has such capacity bring further development to its environs and neighbouring communities. This is represented in the provision of power supply, access to potable water as well as availability of health facilities. It has also been very important in improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Kwara State.
In terms of generating employment, there is a job creation capacity for between 4,500 and 6,000 workers during off and peak periods. This figure is expected to increase to 10,000 workers following expansion activities. Following insinuations by various quarters on the seeming ‘mystery’ the administration of Shonga Farms is shrouded in, simply put, there are percentages of ownership, shared by the Kwara State government, banks and corporate core investors. Shonga Farms Holdings Limited is engaged in supply of cassava to Nigerian Starch Mills Limited, the biggest in West Africa, and located in Ihiala, Anambra State; supply of fresh milk to WAMCO, producers of Peak and Three Crowns milk; supply of fresh milk to Nutricima, producers of Coast milk, in 10 per cent local content, among others. There are also partnerships with seed companies in the USA and Brazil, particularly in the supply of beans and maize. Bananas are also cultivated on the farms which are supplied to major supermarkets.
Targetting an eventual takeover by the local farmers in the future, represented in the Shonga Phase 2 – the Alapa project – indigenes have been selected from various local government areas of the state to set them up as major stakeholders in the commercialisation project.
- Abdulraman sent this piece from Kwara
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