Since the revival of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) by President Muhammadu Buhari over two years ago, the agency has continued to achieve overwhelmingly positive results in its core mandate to develop the full potential of the vast arable lands in Nigeria for the provision of food and fiber security for the citizenry.

NALDA has initiated various innovative programs and projects across the country to motivate more people into farming, especially women and youth in various rural communities as well as assisting both small and large-scale farmers with essential implements to increase their yields and income. In turn, this will ultimately assist in diversifying the nation’s economy and enhance revenue generation through the agricultural sector.

In Abia State, NALDA’s intervention in agriculture has had a significant impact on communities where the agency established integrated farms to provide the local populace with opportunities and invaluable training that would help them engage in active farming as part of its Women in Agriculture and Back to Farm initiatives.

The pilot phase of these NALDA integrated farm projects have fully taken off in Ariam, Ikwuano Local Government Area with the construction of a fish village, banana plantation and processing facilities for fish, snails, grasscutters and other livestock harvested from the farm. Similar farms located in Okpulumobo and Osusu communities in Aba North and Osisioma LGAs respectively have also sprung into operation.

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The launch of these innovative projects necessitated a two-day awareness and advocacy programme by NALDA officials and facilitated by Dondirty Nigeria Ltd in Abia State to sensitise residents and volunteer farmers in the two communities where NALDA integrated farmers are sited.

Addressing the large audience that converged on the premises of NALDA farm at Okpulumobo community, the project coordinator, Obinna- Njoku Obinna, highlighted the agency’s activities in other parts of the country and particularly the various community-based projects currently undertaken in Abia State.

He noted that the agency was committed to ensuring the full utilization of available agricultural land in every community for the purpose of farming as mandated by President Buhari in resuscitating NALDA.

“We have the mandate to utilize all available agricultural land for viable commercial agriculture to produce enough food for Nigerians and reduce importation from other countries,” he said.

An expert from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture who is a consultant to NALDA, Dr Samuel Onoja, enlightened the people on the various NALDA programs in relation to modern farming techniques designed to boost productivity.

He also explained the rudiments of mechanized farming and the benefits of being volunteer workers on NALDA farms.

The Abia Coordinator of NALDA, Dr. Nwele Uche, reiterated the agency’s mandate and told the gathering that NALDA seeks partnership with the community to ensure that women and youth in the area interested in farming receive the necessary support from the Federal Government.

Beneficiaries and other members of the community expressed gratitude to NALDA for bringing the projects to them and pledged total cooperation with the agency to actualize its objectives.

A similar event held at the NALDA farm situated at Osusu community, Aba where some residents and leaders of the community were briefed about the agency’s projects and the integrated farm which comprises a plantain orchard, fish ponds, snail and grasscutter nursery and processing facilities, among others.