700-hectare farm estate’ll curb herders/farmers clashes – FG

Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, Paul Ikonne

 

The Federal Government has said the 700-hectare integrated farm estate being developed in Okwuha Obayin Village in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State will curb clashes between herders and farmers within and outside the state.

It said the major reason for developing the facility was to improve the country’s livestock sector, reduce conflict in the North-Central region and create job opportunities for about 3,000 youths.

The Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, Paul Ikonne, said in a statement on Friday that the farm would focus on livestock rearing including cattle, goat, sheep and poultry, as well as pasture production.

“It will have a crop production area with an irrigation farming system in place to enable all-year-round food production, particularly maize as the farm has natural water source on its path,” he said.

He said with Kogi State bordering several states in the South-South, South-East, South-West and the North, the integrated farm estate would serve as a bridge and safe haven for pastoralists relocating from these zones, thereby reducing clashes between farmers and herders.

The statement said about 12 landowners in the LGA had shown willingness to donate land for the project, adding that the NALDA boss just concluded an interactive meeting with government officials and village heads in the state.

He said the land clearing at the facility would commence immediately and the first section of the farm estate would be inaugurated by December 2021.