The Kwara State government has expressed its readiness to key into the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) initiative, The Buhari Young Farmers’ Network, by setting aside 500 hectares of land for the programme.
The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed this yesterday while speaking with journalists after his meeting with the executive secretary/CEO of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, in Abuja.
The governor said the 500 hectares would serve as a pilot programme in three local government areas of the state, afterwards, the programme would be implemented in the entire state.
He said the target was to bring youths, both graduates and non-graduates into agriculture and make them understand that agriculture is beneficial.
According to him, “We are here to key into the federal government agricultural programme, it is an ideal programme to kickstart massive agricultural programme for youth employment, this is an important programme which we need to key into, and we can’t just wait since the federal government has made announcement, we had to rush forward. I’m happy that Kwara will be the first for the pilot programme.
“We are fully ready, the land is ready and in the next few weeks, we will issue them with certificate of occupancy so that the program can begin immediately by August.
“We are beginning with 500 hectares for three local government areas as the pilot scheme. Now within the pilot scheme, we look at the pros and cons and how to improve on it and extend it to all the local governments, and from there, expand forthwith and bring more youths to cultivate the land.
“Our target is that in a year’s time, we will have thousands of youths both graduates and non-graduates back to the farm, they will see that there is benefit in farming.
“We want to expand our fish farm in the state, especially tilapia fish, animal husbandry, we have packaged different crops for each local government and we will improve from there”, Governor Ahmed said.
On his part, the executive secretary of NALDA, Prince Ikonne said plans were on the way to establish a cashew processing plant in Kwara for the North Central zone.
“It was a fruitful meeting, and like the governor had said, Kwara rushed into it and they are getting one of the best out of it for being the pilot state and the governor is willing.
“Don’t forget that we already have cashew plantations in Kwara that are still there, almost 2000 to 3000 hectares and we have agreed as well that we will put the cashew processing plant for North Central in Kwara state.”