Ikonne: NALDA’s Farm Estate Will Yield N2bn Annually in Ogun

James Emejo

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne, has said that its proposed Integrated Farm Estate in Ogun State is expected to generate about N2 billion annually.

He added that the project, which is billed to be completed by February 2022, will also provide employment opportunities for 1,500 beneficiaries when operational.

Ikonne, told journalists shortly after visiting the 100-hectare farm located at the Special Agro Industrial Zone, in Makun-Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, that the site would become NALDA’s biggest project in fish, goat and snail production.

He said farm estate would also accommodate a garri processing and packaging plant, snail farming, goat rearing and fishing farming.

Already, the land clearing for the project had been completed while construction is expected to commence before the end of August.

The NALDA boss said, “The reason why we want to make Ogun farm one of the biggest in production is its proximity to Lagos, and you know that there is market for everything in Lagos and our target for the farm is proximately N2 billion annually after the first year of commencement.

“Ogun is one of our key farm estate because of its proximity to the sea ports for export purposes and the farm estate would give Nigeria and Nigerians an image in food production.”

He also said the farm estate would facilitate development of the host community, reduce youth migration to the urban areas, increase the indigene’s incomes through agriculture as well as boost their living standards within the communities that are hosting NALDA integrated estates.

He said, “The prospects are high because there would be traffic of people coming into the community buy from the farm estate based on what is being produced in the farm. So it’s a win-win for all the communities that are hosting NALDA integrated farm estate.”

He said the move by the authority was sequel to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that

all abandoned farm estate be recovered and reactivated as well as create new ones in order to create employment opportunities and achieve food security in the country.

The efforts to set up another farm estate came barely a month after Buhari inaugurated the maiden 100- hectare integrated farm estate established by NALDA in Daura, Katsina State.

The president had further pledged that his administration would give all support to the authority to help it expand the farm estates to all the 109 senatorial district in the country.

The initiative is also designed to woo the unemployed youths into farming in order to earn a living and shun crime.