The Ogun government has been nominated to take advantage of three pilot federal government programs aimed at better positioning the country as the country’s food basket.
The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the National Agency for Agricultural Land Development (NALDA) Paul Icone on his way to the office of the Governor of Dapo Abiodun in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Wednesday.
He noted that the state would benefit from Integrated Farming, Gary’s packaging plant, a soil testing training program, and expansion services for 200 young graduates with science and agriculture degrees.
The executive secretary added that the integrated farmhouse will be located in three Senate states, stressing that the property will include everything from manufacturing, processing, packaging and marketing.
Ikonne said that with Garri’s processing facilities, farmers can enter the world of agriculture with the confidence that their efforts will not be in vain.
“We are implementing programs and projects in which Ogun State is planned as one of the pilot states. NALDA integrated farmhouses are quoted in Ogun state in three Senate districts in the state.
“Integrated gardens are a concept that encompasses everything from production to processing, packaging and marketing. We also have residential areas for farmers in integrated agriculture.
“Knowing that Ogun has the highest cassava production capacity, our Garri packaging facility will be state. This will make NALDA a buyer for farmers. We process it, package it appropriately, and market it.
“We are training Nigerian youth based on the President’s guidelines on ground testing and extension services. Therefore, Ogun State is expected to nominate 200 people in the first phase.
“Once again, Ogun is one of the states in the pilot phase of this program. It will nominate young graduates with agricultural or scientific degrees to complete this two-week intensive training course.
“You will be provided with soil testing kits and equipment by NALDA to collect soil samples after training and will start making money for yourself to make a living from the program,” he said.
He announced that NALDA would not relax and monitor how the country was increasing the value of agriculture itself. “The agency will also soon activate 700 hectares of land in Joga-Orile in the hope that reactivation will improve the country’s status in food production.”
In response, Governor Abiodun attributed the success of his government’s agricultural project to support from President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, adding that his government views agriculture as a “three column” that allows the state to feed its people and provide jobs that create rather than generate income for the country.