Food Security: FG’s Farm Project To Benefit 4000 Youths, Women

By James Orji

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of farm estates in 108 senatorial districts across the country that will benefit over 4000 youths, women and Internal Displaced Persons, IDPs.

The Director General of the the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA Paul Ikonne made this known on Sunday, adding that the program is part of efforts by the government to make food sufficient in the country.

NALSA said the administration is poised to ensuring food security despite seeming challenges.

To make the program take off smoothly, Ikonne called on the state government to key into it, by making land available for the project.

Already, the agency said some state governments have donated massive land as part of their own contribution to the project. Kogi state, he said, for instance has donated 700 hectares of land, while Ogun state has donated 100 hectares of land. The land donated by the Ogun state government, he explained has been cleared.

According to him, “What you see is that agriculture is one of Mr. President’s heartbeat projects and he wants to see that we achieve food security in the country and NALDA is purely under the supervision of Mr. President and that is why you can see the progress that we’re making.

“I believe that the commissioning of the Daura Integrated Farm Estate in Katsina state which has the capacity to take in 1500 young farmers, is a stepping stone or an eye opener to Nigerians towards Mr. President’s passion in achieving food security.”

The NALDA boss said the project is multi-facetted, meant to help mostly women and internally displaced persons to get their lives back

He explained that “Now, we didn’t stop at the Daura project, as we speak, the Integrated Farm Estate in Borno is 75 percent completed and we are also doing, in 40 locations, fish villages to engage women to take in those people who are coming, the Internally Displaced Persons, in order to get them reintegrated and get them engaged, thereby providing job opportunity for them.

“As Mr. President is pursuing achieving food security, at the same time also creating job opportunities for Nigerians is on the front burner and that is what we are achieving, or we are doing using the NALDA platform.”

He said the project will benefit thousands of youths across the country as “clearing is about to commence and we believe that the first phase of that project, which will engage over 4,000 youths into the entire agricultural process, thereby creating employment and reducing herders-farmers clash.

“That farm in Kogi will go a long way in addressing the issues between herders/farmers because we are going to cluster the herdsmen, provide them with pastures and the facilities they need like water and, and other facilities that will help to support their business in cattle rearing.

“Again, in Ogun State, we have finished land clearing, 100 hectares has been completely cleared and the access road has been provided in that place and that farm will take in 2500 youths.

“The President gave directives that we must make agriculture attractive to young Nigerians so that they will be engaged and I’m glad to inform us that that directive is not being taken with levity, that’s why we’re not sleeping because when the President speaks, it’s a command and you can’t wait when you have a command from Mr. President, knowing fully well that agriculture is his heartbeat and he wants to achieve food security,” the NAFDAC boss said.

Recall that the federal government, last month, stated that it has commenced the reactivation of the 35 hectares farm estate in Imo State that was abandoned for more than 30 years.