The National Land Development Agency (NALDA) has commenced harvest in maize and rice it cultivated across the country where it recorded high yield.
Currently, harvesting, bagging and storing of the crop produce are underway in Bauchi, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, and Oyo states.
The high yield recorded is expected to boost the nation’s grain supply which will have a big effect on the value chains downstream that produce poultry feed, and other household goods.
Also, evidence from the states during the media tour of harvest activities at farm sites nationwide showed that NALDA harvests will help to reduce the gap in domestic production and supply of rice and maize.
In Bauchi State, with an overall land area of 500 hectares, 50 hectares were cultivated due to a 15-day rain delay and a late start to activities.
Its Coordinator, Jalaludeen Mu’Azu, said the farm equipped with machinery such as tractors, maize threshers, planters, boom sprayer, maize harvesters, and a finished grain warehouse will boost significant production in the area as no farms in the state have such machinery.
According to Mu’Azu, the crop’s success has already piqued the interest of farmers in the surrounding farming communities.
He said over 150 metric tonnes of maize is expected from the farm.
Also, in Gboko, Benue State, where harvesting and bagging have also begun, NALDA expects to harvest large metric tonnes of paddy rice from the farm, as what has already been harvested indicated.
The Nation learnt that NALDA-cultivated a 150-hectare rice farm with two combined harvesters, tractors, and other machines for bagging chores.
Speaking to journalists during a visit, NALDA state coordinator, Asom William, said the stage is set for more expansion in the coming cropping season, including diversification into dry season production.
On his part, the Head, Department of Engineering at NALDA, Engineer Owolabi Matthew Olusegun, said NALDA is ready to replicate the same feat in all of its farms across the country.
”With this we can increase the acreage to ensure that we get food self-sufficiency. We can do it and we are doing it,” he said.
In Niger State, continued harvest of maize grown on 85 hectares of land in the first season, has revealed a significant potential of over 100 metric tonnes.
The mechanised farm is located in Tunga Gana, Paikoro LGA providing opportunities for women and young people in the area.
The state Administrator for NALDA, Niger State, Illiya Manta, said the farm has attracted a lot of interest from the youth in the community due to its mechanised standard.
“Majority of what we are doing here is mechanized, but we have also engaged approximately 50 women who will help assemble maize in areas where we may face obstacles with the machines.
We have also involved about 100 youths from the beginning of field preparation until harvest depending on the operations,” he said. Mr. Manta said the intention of the state is to extend more production in the upcoming season, possibly covering 400 hectares if the headquarters allowed.
He also indicated that plans are also in the pipeline to commence 100 hectares of dry season farming in another location. The farm’s manager, Mustapha Haruna Ndadama, described his time working in the farm as “very nice experience so far.”
Meanwhile, NALDA, which has established farm estates across Nigeria to boost the nation’s food security drive, has achieved tremendous success in both farms built and run solely by the agency and those run in collaboration with private and public institutions across the six geopolitical zones.
