The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has disclosed its plans to empower 2000 fish farmers and 40 fish processors in order to execute a fish value chain project that will enhance the standard of living in Borno State.
Paul Ikonne, the executive secretary of NALDA, made this known while addressing journalists at the Borno government house during a recent visit with Governor Babagana Zulum.
Ikonne indicated that the fish value chain will be clustered among the three senatorial districts, adding that the project is a socio-agribusiness with inbuilt sustainability.
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The NALDA boss promised that activities would commence within the months of January and February, further explaining that the current assignment of the authority is to execute the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari by retrieving NALDA’s properties, including agricultural lands, so as to facilitate the agency’s mandates.
In his response, Governor Zulum expressed the readiness of the state government to work with NALDA and, in particular, to commence the fish project immediately, adding that he would set up a committee to work with the agency and would instruct them to carefully identify beneficiaries.
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The governor noted that the 40 fish cluster centers proposed by NALDA would be distributed among Borno’s three senatorial districts – North, Central and South – in a ratio of 13-14-13 respectively.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to work closely with NALDA in order to address protein-rich food supply challenges, unemployment and security within the state.