The Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA) is to spend about N115 million on the second phase of Songhai farm initiative in Minna.

Prof. Mohammed Ali, UNRBDA Managing Director, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday said that the project would support all year round farming system.

He said that the first phase of the initiative which cost N200 million involved poultry, fishery, feed processing, crops production and abattoir with value addition to meat production and processing.

Ali said that the second phase of the initiative would include facilities such as hostel, canteen and other infrastructure to enable a conducive environment within the farm.

He said that the Basin introduced the Songhai farm model to create employment opportunities and promote enterprise development especially among the younger generation.

He explained that the system would promote research in new agricultural techniques and varieties, encourage skills transfer and adoption of appropriate technology by local farmers among others.

”We are utilising the available land at our disposal to execute some projects that will transform the agricultural sector through modern farming method for productions of assorted food crops for local consumption and export,“ he said.

He also disclosed that the Basin would establish a biogas unit to harness all the waste products from the farm.

He said 50 engineers from the authourity would trained on project management at the Songhai International Center in Benin Republic to enhance their professionalism. (NAN)

– Oct. 31, 2018 @ 13:29 GMT |