The Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority is set to commence the second phase of Songhai farm in Minna, Niger State.
The Managing Director of the agency, Professor Mohammed Ali disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Minna on Wednesday.
Professor Mohammed said the goals of introducing the Songhai farm model by the Basin was targeted at creating employment opportunities for the people, promoting enterprise development especially amongst the younger generation, promoting research in new agricultural techniques and varieties, encouraging skills transfer and adopting appropriate technology by local farmers.
He said the first phase of the initiative which cost N200 million, included poultry, fishery, feed processing, crops production and abattoir with value addition to meat production and processing.
Professor Mohammed said the second phase of the initiative would be an improvement to the earlier one with value addition to all agricultural production, adding that in agriculture, the return on investment is in value addition and not the actual production.
He said the second phase would include facilities such as hostel, canteen and other infrastructure in the ongoing effort aimed at providing an enabling environment to enhance activities within the farm.
The Managing Director also disclosed that the Basin would establish a bio-gas unit where all the waste products will be harnessed.
He said 50 engineers from the Basin would be sent for training on project management at the Songhai International Center in Benin Republic to enhance their professionalism, adding that the first set of trainees would depart in November.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
