To reduce poverty and boost food production, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commissioned 120 housing units and an empowerment centre for farmers in Borno State.
The facility located in Zawiya Village, Dutsman Borno State has a clinic, a school for children of farmers, a worship centre, solar-powered boreholes, and access roads.
The production area of the facility is segmented into fish and poultry houses, goat pens as well as empowerment centres where women and youths can be trained.
The facility was launched by the Executive Secretary of NALDA Prince Paul Ikonne alongside the Governor of Borno State Prof Babagana Zulum for the benefit of Internally Displaced Persons in the state.
NALDA ES stressed that the facility was provided to encourage young Nigerians to venture into the agricultural sector as well as provide good accommodation for farmers in the state.
He mentioned that youths and women would be trained at the agriculture empowerment center for 3-4months after which they would be given startup packs to enable them to venture into agribusiness
He said “All these is geared towards reducing unemployment and achieving food security. The empowerment centres are new project of NALDA.”
Ikonne further revealed that the authority is in touch with farmers as they plan to support them with farm inputs as well as train budding agriculturist. He assured that all the states will benefit from the scheme and called on them to utilize the scheme to create jobs for the teeming population.
He said the authority has partnered with some farmers who have provided farmlands for the empowerment centers saying in Osun state for instance, a farmer provided his farmland , which was upgraded by NALDA into an empowerment center
“We also have a farm in Nasarawa State. A private farmer also made available his farmland. That is also 80 to 90% ready for commissioning.
Speaking on NALDA’s empowerment centres Prince Ikonne disclosed that the centres would have fishery poultry, animal husbandry and raffia grass field all aimed at job creation.
“The importance of these agriculture empowerment centres 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.”
In addition, he pointed out that the farmers would be recruited in trenches, saying “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.”
Speaking after inaugurating NALDA’s rural housing scheme, Zulum commended NALDA ES I for choosing Borno to execute such Projects, noting that it will Contribute to the economic development of the state.
“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,” Zulum said.
Meanwhile, Zulum said he was ready to provide lands for investors who are interested in agriculture.
He said the initiative would assist mostly returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have been battered by bandits and terrorists over the years.
Source: The Guardian
