The Federal Government through the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, on Thursday, provided poultry farmers in Nasarawa State with starter packs under the Home-Grown Poultry Scheme.
It said 200 youths and women in Nasarawa State benefitted from the programme, adding that the scheme aimed to empower citizens in agribusiness, boost their incomes and improve their livelihood through sustainable agriculture.
NALDA, in a statement issued in Abuja, stated that it was partnering with traditional leaders to reach genuine farmers at the grassroots through the Home-Grown Poultry Scheme.
It stated that the beneficiaries, who were drawn from the various local governments of the state, converged at the emir’s palace in Lafia, the state capital, to receive free feeds, cages and birds as start-up packages.
“Each beneficiary got a three-tier bird cage, 25 birds and three bags of feeds that were enough to feed the birds till maturity,” the agency stated.
It added that before the distribution, NALDA’s team briefed the Emir of Lafia and the Chairman of Nasarawa Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Muhammed (rtd), alongside other traditional leaders in the state, about the scheme.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, who was represented by the Head of Engineering, NALDA, Olusegun Owolabi, said the project was a revolving one, adding that the sustainability and continuity would be subject to the beneficiaries’ commitments.
He said the project would go a long way in curbing the importation of chicken into Nigeria and also help save foreign exchange for the country.
“We need to take over the business and ensure that we stop exporting jobs, because for every product that we import, we have exported our employment, and for every local thing we consume, we created employment for someone somewhere in the country.
“NALDA is out to sustain the total ban on importation of frozen chicken for the poultry industry to expand, reduce unemployment and boost the country’s economy by empowering individuals to upscale their poultry production,” Ikonne stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to pay attention to the training and guidance on how to handle the birds for maximum turnover.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional leaders, Muhammed appreciated NALDA for trusting and believing in the traditional institution to help facilitate and execute the project.
He said the traditional leaders in the state would work with the agency to ensure the success of the project in the state.
“We thank you for finding the traditional institution in the state worthy, using us as the conduit pipe for translating this programme into reality, you have taken the right decision. On behalf of the traditional rulers in the state, I want to say that we’ll do our best to justify this choice that you have made,” he stated.
President Bola Tinubu had in his New Year speech assured Nigerians of food security.
