The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) is about to commission its Integrated Farm Estates located in Ariam Elu Elu in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State and Acharaugo Emekuku in Owerri North, Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, stated this during his inspection tour to the farm estates, disclosing that the establishment of the projects is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate to NALDA to create jobs through agriculture.
NALDA is responsible for revitalization of agricultural practices in Nigeria through empowerment of small holder and large scale farmers and supporting the drive for food security while assisting in diversifying the nation’s economy.
NALDA Partners With Abia to Boost Agriculture
Ikonne noted that the project in Abia State would benefit about 400 women and youth of the community, as they have been already trained and prepared to manage the farm for their economic benefits, adding that one of the objectives of the projects, was to empower youths and reduce rural-urban migration.
He explained that the Ariam Elu Elu Farm Estate sits on 100 hectares of land donated by the community and that, 50 fish ponds with a capacity of 150,000 fingerlings and 3,000 fish has been completed, with three solar-powered industrial boreholes as well as a two-kilometer road with drainages, solar-powered street lights, office blocks and residential buildings.
NALDA to Empower 17,000 Youths in Rabbit Production
Commenting on the Acharaubo Farm Estate in Imo State, he stated that the reactivated 35-hectare land was abandoned for over 30 years, boasting that NALDA has resuscitated some of the existing facilities on the farm and also added some new facilities to boost productivity on the farm.
Currently, the farm consist of six poultry houses with 18 pens that contain about 10,000 birds, three goat houses with 196 goats, three piggeries containing 108 pigs, three solar-powered boreholes, access roads and drainage and solar-powered street lights on the farm.
