NALDA Kick starts Dry Season Wheat Farm In Gombe State
Ene Okwanihe, Abuja
In line with ongoing efforts to continuously reduce the rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria through modern agriculture and agribusiness, the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority, NALDA, has commenced a 200 hectares dry season wheat farm in Gombe State North East Nigeria, with the target of engaging 400 youths.
The farm is situated on a 100 hectares in Dogon Ruwa in Kaltungo Local government area of the state while the other 100 hectares is located in Nafada area of the state.
The wheat production is in 9 states with 2500 hectares of land donated by the 9 state governments of which Gombe is one of them.
The 2500 hectares is targeted to produce 10,000 metric tons of wheat which would go a long way in bridging the country’s demand Deficit.
Speaking at the ‘Groundbreaking Ceremony of 2021 Dry Season Wheat Production’ at the wheat farm, in Dogon Ruwa community of Kaltungo Local Government Area, the Executive Secretary of NALDA Prince Paul Ikonne said Nigerian youths are paramount in the heart of President Muhammadu Buhari in terms of employment and engaging them in lucrative ventures through Agriculture.
“We are here in Gombe State based on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, have mandated NALDA to achieve food security and create job opportunities for our teeming youths through viable agricultural value chains”
Ikonne explained that Nigeria as a country is in dear need of wheat production to close the National deficit gap.
“Our import value is more than what we produce, and we are consuming more than what we produce in terms of wheat so that makes wheat production very lucrative and very attractive for farmers”
He stated that NALDA is encouraging farmers to go into wheat production in order to earn income from wheat production, and also help reduce the volume of wheat importation in the country.
“Our wheat consumption is more than 6 million metric tonnes annually, and we are producing like 1.1 per cent of what we consume. Gombe has been positioned by your natural nature as the potentials and as one of the States that would be producing wheat in Nigeria.
“We will need more additional sites in terms of land provision. This community that have provided the land they are the immediate beneficiaries as we provide them the herbicides, pesticides, pumping machines, seeds, technical support, we will encourage our youths to be more productive, make money from wheat production.
While commending the state government NALDA staff in the state, Ikonne asked that the state government make available more lands for wheat production as NALDA was ready to help turn the state into a wheat production hub in the country.
“And NALDA will engage more youths among farmers if you provide more land. Seeing you as an agric-friendly Governor, Your Excellency, NALDA is positioned to partner with you. We are willing and ready to go all out to engage your youths as directed by Mr President.”
“This is what integration and cooperation should be. Your support has made this project very smooth for NALDA. I used this to challenge other states going forward that partnership between Federal Government and State Government is for the benefit of the people to a large extent and the entire country.
The NALDA Boss called on investors to key into the wheat value chain for more profit and to reduce heavy dependence on importation of the commodity, which high foreign exchange leaves the country.
“I use this opportunity to call on investors to begin to invest on wheat production as money is being made available NALDA will be positioning itself in providing water infrastructure in assisting in irrigation system as we go into massive wheat production in the country”, he said.
On his part, the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, commended NALDA for the project, and also other projects being executed in line with the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari in terms of creating employment for youths in the state.
He said the groundbreaking ceremony is part of the commitment of both the Federal and State governments towards boosting the agricultural sector and ensuring food security in the country.
“On this NALDA is following President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate in making agriculture attractive to our youths to see agriculture as a business and a means of livelihood in order to attain economic prosperity.
“The dry season wheat production is in line with ongoing efforts to bridge the national deficit in wheat production in the country so as to reduce importation.
“Dry season wheat production effort is to bridge this gap and the project is targeting nine states at the moment with a land size of over 2,500 hectares and is expected to reach at least 10, 000 metric tonnes because following the success by the grace of God, NALDA, the Federal Government, and private sector will join hands to see that Nigeria go through wheat consumption without necessarily importing a significant part of it”, Yahaya stated.
He also promised to support all ongoing projects of NALDA as they will benefit Gombe people and boost agriculture.
The wheat production is in 9 states with 2,500 hectares of land donated by the 9 state governments of Gombe is one of themThe 2,500 hectares would give 10,000 metric tons of wheat.
Other states are Jigawa, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Kebbi and Katsina.
It would be recalled that NALDA had earlier in November flagged off the dry season wheat farming programme in Jigawa state North West Nigeria.
