News in brief:
-Â The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is collaborating with large-scale farms to improve food security in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
– This initiative aims to increase agro-allied productivity, educate young people about the business potential of agriculture, and provide support to farms.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has embarked on a collaborative effort with large-scale farms in the region to address food security concerns. The initiative aims to increase agro-allied productivity and ensure a stable food supply for the Niger Delta and the rest of Nigeria.
A team led by NDDC’s Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Winifred Madume, recently visited several prominent farms in Sapele, Delta State. These included Adventium Songhai Delta Nigeria Limited, Emmppek Farms, and Okemute Farms. The visits aimed to assess the farms’ infrastructure and preparedness for integration into the NDDC’s food security program.
Madume highlighted the alignment between this initiative, spearheaded by NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and the federal government’s policy of stakeholder engagement in development processes.
She emphasised the program’s focus on educating young people in the region about the business potential of agriculture. She stated that it would help in increasing the attractiveness of agribusiness as a career path.
Also, the NDDC director added that the commission is actively engaging with identified farm holdings to understand their challenges, areas for support, and explore solutions to Nigeria’s food security challenges.
Madume outlined plans to collaborate with farms on various fronts like absorbing agro-allied trainees, organising training programs, and facilitating resource access.
Additionally, she revealed that the programme was not exclusive to Delta State, mentioning similar initiatives underway in Imo, Abia, Edo, and Ondo States. These, Madume remarks, higlights the NDDC’s commitment to comprehensive food security across the Niger Delta region.
A beneficiary of the collaboration, Emmppek Farms’ managing director, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, lauded the initiative and highlighted their innovative production of egg powder from raw eggs in his farms.
Overall, the collaborative effort between the NDDC and large-scale farms is believed to be a significant step towards achieving food security in the Niger Delta. Analysts opine that the initiative has the potential to transform the agricultural landscape in the region.
