September 10, (THEWILL) – The federal government on Friday denied allegations the 109 Integrated Farm Estates approved for the National Land Development Authority (NALDA) for implementation are meant for Ruga and ranches.
NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Paul Ikonne, who made the clarification in a chat with newsmen, said the integrated farm estates were designed to assimilate the youths from the community into the entire agricultural value chain.
THEWILL reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed NALDA to establish integrated farm estates in the 109 senatorial districts to boost food production across the country.
However, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, had in a statement by its spokesperson, Jare Ajayi, said the federal government was attempting to bring back the rejected cattle colony, Ruga, through the establishment of farm estates.
The NALDA boss described the Afenifere’s stance as an unfortunate misinterpretation of the farm estates, and designed to mislead the people.
Ikonne said, “Well, it is unfortunate, it’s not another type or anything that has to do with Ruga. The Integrated Farm Estate, the president mandated us to put it in all the 109 Senatorial Districts.
“After commissioning that of Daura, meaning he saw the productive nature, the impact that project will make.
“The project is meant for the community, to develop the community. What we have inside is poultry, fishery and for those who are doing piggery. So, is for the people.
“The insinuation is meant to mislead people as a result of lack understanding so to say.
“But the true position is that the integrated farm estate is designed to accommodate the youths from that community in order to engage them into the entire agricultural value chain.
“And it depends on what the community is known for and what the community is interested in going into. Some states are getting poultry, cow, like in the north. In the south like Abia, they are doing fishery and rabbit rearing.
“In Oyo, we already have rabbit rearing and crop farming; in Ekiti State as well we have crop farming.
“So it depends on the environment, and it has nothing to do with Ruga at all. It’s purely for development, and to engage the youths and for the benefit of the immediate community, that is what the integrated farming estate stands for.”
