FG To Boost Food Production Through Integrated Farm Projects

The Federal Government in a bid to strengthen the agriculture sector and boost local food production, at the weekend, launched two integrated farm projects in Okpe and Uneme Nekhua in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The projects which are modelled after the Songhai Farm in Benin Republic, consist of production, processing, research enterprises, integrated crops, fisheries, among others.

The Managing Director, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority , Saliu Ahmed, while speaking during the launch noted that the farms would impact the government’s mandate of achieving national food security as the two communities are expected to cultivate 100 hectares of farm each.

The facilities of the project as described by the MD includes; agro-forestry, market garden, feed mill, cassava and fruit juice processing units, abattoir, biogas facility, a dormitory among others

He said the farm projects would serve as a research and experimental hub for local farmers to learn new and productive methods of doing farm businesses.

To make the farms viable, Ahmed said there would be sponsorship of selected youths of the communities for training in the Songhai Farm in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

The Project Dacilitator, Peter Akpatason, explained that the project is part of the vision of the Federal Government to create jobs through agriculture.