The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has launched several efforts to lower food prices, increase productivity, and reintegrate displaced farmers into farming.

During an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, the Authority’s Executive Secretary, Mr Cornelius Adebayo, highlighted several activities, including the Renewed Hope Restoration Project, Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estates, Green Hope Project, and Aqua Hope Project.

He stated that the authority’s primary goal in the short term was to cut food prices, ensure food supply, and focus resources in regions where their impact could be measured. 

He explained that under the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Settlement, they intend to establish mega farm resettlement across the country, saying such farm settlements would help tackle the farmers-herders crisis.

Adebayo said farmers would be put in clusters and provided with necessary security apparatus, farm inputs, extension, and mechanisation services.

He disclosed that they are building one of such mega centres in Ekiti State, saying it will curtail input diversion and increase farmers’ access to mechanisation services.

The NALDA boss said the Aqua Hope Project was designed to increase fish production in Nigeria’s riverine states.

He noted that women and youths in some riverine states would be engaged in fish farming for local consumption and export.

Commenting on the Green Hope Project, Adebayo said the Agency, in collaboration with other institutions, would encourage the production of vegetables in greenhouses rather than open-field cultivation.

He disclosed that NALDA has already deployed greenhouses to be installed from Epe to Sagamu, saying the cluster would help provide the vegetable needs in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states. He added that for the FCT cluster, the greenhouse is also being installed in the University of Abuja to be managed by the school’s Faculty of Agriculture.

Under the scheme, Adebayo stated that they have collaborated with the Rural Electrification Agency to provide solar pumps for irrigation to farmers.

He emphasised that NALDA’s primary mandate is not to cultivate farms but to provide an enabling environment for farmers to increase food yield.

He stated that the Authority is prepared to assist smallholder farmers, emphasising that “agriculture is not an intervention but a business.”

Adebayo promised to help private investors de-risk their businesses by creating a conducive climate and infrastructure for them to succeed. 

Source: TheGuardian