NALDA establishes a 100 acre farm, a poultry feed factory in Sokoto

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has established a livestock farm with a cow milking center on 100 hectares of land in Sokoto.

NALDA is developing a modern cattle ranch that can sustain itself and reduce the movement of cows in the area.

Prince Paul Ikonne, NALDA’s executive secretary, speaking to journalists after the inspection of the livestock farm and poultry feed mill, said he was satisfied with the level of work in the facilities.

Ikonne explained that the importance of establishing modern livestock farming was based on Mr. President’s directive, in line with NALDA’s mandate.

The livestock farm has cow houses with a capacity of 500 cows, a cow parlor with a capacity of 200 cows in a set, napier grass on 50 hectares, with the construction of clinics / veterinary departments and a training center.

The NALDA said the Authority is committed to achieving food security and development as it assured that the farm would provide employment, hygienic milk production and the fattening of cows for meat.

Construction workers were spotted on the 100 acres of farmland in the part of the clinic building and training center where work was being done, while the 500-cow capacity pens and cow parlor have both been completed.

The site also featured those watering the napier lawn using the boreholes provided by NALDA on the farm.

The livestock farm is located in Dabagin-lafia, opposite Usman Danfodio University farm, while the poultry feed factory is located in Dayin village along the road to Doba, Sokoto state.

“NALDA is working with Prime Ranch Ltd, who donated the 100 acres of land on which we are establishing the ranch and napier grass field and will grow maize and millet on 30 acres of said land,” said Ikonne.

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“The construction of the napier grass field is intended to ensure feed production for the cows, as that will eliminate the roaming of the animals in search of feed, limiting the clash between farmer and herder.

“The parlor will serve both the cows on the farm and other farmers who want their cows milked in a hygienic way.

“Prime Ranch will manage the ranch upon completion based on their wealth of ranching experience. This type of partnership is sustainable, productive and should be encouraged to achieve food security and development,” he said.

Ikonne also revealed that with the establishment of the poultry feed mill, which Prime Ranch supplied the land and managed the capacity of 62,000 poultry, there would be feed production for small farmers throughout the zone and other parts of the country.

He said jobs would also be created for those who would work in the parlor by taking care of the cows.

“The employment chain will be no less than 400, consisting of workers directly involved in these activities, reaching food supply beyond production,” he noted.

Also while inspecting the projects, the farms and the feed mill, the founder, Prime Ranch Ltd, Nafiu Yakubi, said that the partnership with NALDA was beginning to bear fruit.

He said, “When we started Prime Ranch years ago, we thought to have a ranch-like arrangement where we raise our animals, grow their feed, fatten them up and sell them to the market. The partnership with NALDA is very warmly, they support us in all areas where we need support from them.”

Yakubu said, “From this partnership with NALDA, you’ve seen the feed mill. We are currently producing feed for our poultry and other NALDA poultry farmers.”

However, he praised President Muhammadu Buhari for encouraging young farmers through NADLA, highlighting that the president had called on Nigerians to return to farming while urging Nigerian youths to heed the call.