The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in collaboration with Prime Ranch Ltd has established a commercial farm that would sustain itself and reduce the movement of cows within the area, through construction of modern cattle ranch and poultry feed mill.
Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, while speaking with newsmen after the inspection of the animal husbandry farm and the poultry feed mill facility in Sokoto, said he was satisfied with the level of work at the facilities.
The farm is located at Dabagin-lafia, opposite the Usman Danfodio University farm, while the poultry feed mill is situated in Dayin village along the road to Doba, in Sokoto State. The farm has cow pens with capacity of 500 cows, cow milking parlour with capacity of 200 cows in a set, napier grass on 50 hectares, with the construction of clinics/veterinary sections and a training center.
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The NALDA boss disclosed that the partnership with Prime Ranch is sustainable, productive and should be encouraged in order for to achieve food security and development, adding that the firm will manage the farm on completion based on their wealth of experience in animal husbandry.
He explained that the planting of the napier grass field is to ensure feed production for the cows, as that will eliminate the roaming around of the animals in search of feed, thereby curtailing farmer/herder clash and that the milking parlour will serve both the cows in the farm and other animal husbandry farmers who would want their cows milked in a hygienic way.
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Also speaking during inspection of both projects, was the founder, Prime Ranch Ltd, Nafiu Yakubu, who called on Nigerian youths to go back to farming, while eulogizing NALDA for the partnership adding that the agency supported the firm in all areas they need support .
