By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA) has said the donation of 100 hectares of land to the federal government for its farm estate development in Kwara will lead to the engagement of over 2,000 farmers in crops and livestock when completed.
Recently, the Agbeyangi Community in Kwara State officially handed over the farmland to the agency for the development of a new Integrated Farm Estate as part of the federal government aim to execute farm project in the 109 senatorial districts of the country.
Addressing residents of the community with the Kwara State government officials during an inspection of the project site, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Mr Prince Paul Ikonne, said that the farm would focus on three major crops which are maize, cassava, and yam.
He said that the section of the animal husbandry would focus on the production of grasscutters, rabbits, and goats in commercial quantities, adding that the project would accelerate economic activities in the community.
“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 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,” Mr Ikonne disclosed.
Advising other able communities to emulate this, he said that, “If we have this in every community, Nigeria will be on auto-drive to achieving food security.
“The project is not about politics, it has nothing to do with RUGA, it is purely community-based and if you are not from this community you will not participate.”
Representing the Agbeyangi community, Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir explained that the 100 hectares of land were committed to NALDA by Agbeyangi and Eleyode community to address issues of poverty, unemployment, food insufficiency, and insecurity in the region.
He further disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed to activate the implementation process of the project by NALDA.
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Adedapo Adesanya