James Emejo in Abuja
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has inaugurated 120 housing units and an empowerment center for farmers in Borno State.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, while launching the edifice alongside the State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said the move seeks to reduce poverty and boost food production food in the country.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to venture into agriculture.
He said, “Today, we commissioned 120 housing unit built for farmers in Borno. The aim is to give farmers a good accommodation. The other center is the agriculture empowerment center where youth and women would be trained within three to four months.
“Thereafter, they will be given startup packs to enable them do agric-business on their own. All these is geared towards reducing unemployment and achieving food security. The empowerment centers are new project of NALDA.”
Ikonne said NALDA was already in touch with existent farmers who would be supported with inputs and, in turn, train budding agriculturists.
He pointed out that each state would benefit from the scheme, and called on state governments to utilise the project as a means to create jobs for the teeming population.
He said, “Currently, we have partnership with some individual farmers that have provided their farmlands and space for us to activate the empowerment centers.
“Like in Osun, we have a farmer whose farm is in good shape and up and running. All NALDA needs to do is to upgrade it to the level of being an empowerment center.
“We also have a farm in Nasarawa State. A private farmer also made available his farmland. That is also 80 per cent to 90 per cent ready for commissioning.”
The segmented facility has fish ponds, poultry houses, goats’ pens in the production area, raffia and an already finished empowerment center where women and youths would undergo training.
The excited beneficiaries were drawn from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) camp in the state.
The NALDA boss further explained that the empowerment centers would have fishery poultry, animal husbandry and raffia grass field all aimed at job creation.
According to him, “The importance of these agriculture empowerment centers is to create job opportunities and also encourage young Nigerians to go into agriculture.
“We will be more delighted to have it done with corporate or individuals so that it will be anchored around them and the farm will be managed by them while we empower the youth from the proceeds that come from there.”
“We are looking at 250,000 young Nigerians across the country, to empower them in different field in the first phase. It is going to be a continuous phase.”
Nonetheless, Zulum commended Ikonne for choosing the state to execute such projects, noting that it will contribute to the economic development of the state.
He said he was ready to provide lands for investors who are interested in agriculture, adding that the initiative would assist mostly returning IDPs who have been battered by bandits and terrorists over the years.
The governor said, “Let me use this opportunity to commend the hardworking Executive Secretary of NALDA for all his initiatives that are geared towards creating employment and means of livelihood for the people.”
