The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has inaugurated a vegetable market in Yemaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve market access, and reduce post-harvest losses.
The facility is expected to improve market efficiency for horticultural producers, create additional income opportunities for farmers, and improve the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, NALDA Executive Secretary, Mr Cornelius Adebayo, said the market was established to address one of the major challenges facing farmers across the country, limited access to organised and profitable markets.
According to him, the facility will serve as a strategic link between producers and consumers by providing a structured platform for the aggregation and sale of horticultural produce.
“The true value of a farm is not measured by what is harvested from the soil, but by how efficiently that harvest reaches the market. The NALDA vegetable market is strategically located to provide a buffer between producers and consumers, ensuring that farmers have access to organised markets where their produce can be sold efficiently and profitably. This project forms part of NALDA’s broader agricultural transformation agenda under the Green Hope Project, which seeks to develop the entire agricultural value chain from production to marketing,” he said.
Adebayo explained that the market complements NALDA’s ongoing Open Field Horticulture Project in Cham, Talasse, and Tudu communities in Gombe State, where the authority is supporting rural women through commercial vegetable production.
He disclosed that more than 100 women farmers have already been enrolled in the programme, with each beneficiary allocated approximately 1,000 square metres of farmland for vegetable cultivation.
According to him, participants are receiving improved seedlings, extension services, irrigation facilities, and other production inputs designed to increase productivity and improve farm outcomes.
“Our goal is not only to increase production but also to guarantee profitability and sustainability for farmers. NALDA has invested in irrigation infrastructure across the project sites, including the drilling of boreholes and the installation of irrigation systems, to support year-round cultivation. We have also provided supporting infrastructure such as cold rooms, cloakrooms and sanitary facilities to improve post-harvest handling and create a more conducive working environment for farmers,” he said.
He added that security posts have also been established to safeguard project assets and ensure the safety of participating farmers.
According to Adebayo, produce harvested from the horticultural clusters will be aggregated and marketed through the newly commissioned vegetable market, creating an integrated agricultural ecosystem that supports production, storage, and sales.
Beyond the vegetable market initiative, the NALDA Executive Secretary revealed plans to expand the authority’s Mega Farm Estate Programme across the North-East following the commencement of agricultural development activities in Dass, Bauchi State.
He disclosed that approximately 500 hectares of land are currently being cleared and developed in Bauchi State, with plans to replicate similar large-scale agricultural investments in Gombe and other states in the region.
The proposed mega farm estates, he said, will include modern agricultural infrastructure such as farm hostels, warehouses, processing centres, administrative buildings, irrigation systems, and access roads to support commercial-scale farming operations.
“This project aligns with the Federal Government’s food security and economic diversification agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme. Strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure will help create jobs, empower women and youths, attract private investment and accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation”, he said.
Adebayo also commended the immediate past Executive Secretary of NALDA, Mr Paul Ikonne, whose administration conceived and delivered the vegetable market project.
He further praised Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, for supporting agricultural development initiatives and creating an enabling environment for NALDA programmes to thrive.
The NALDA Executive Secretary appealed to the state government to provide additional land to enable the authority to expand its interventions and accommodate more beneficiaries.
He also acknowledged the contributions of community leaders, farmers, development partners, and other stakeholders towards the successful completion of the project, urging beneficiaries to take ownership of the facility and ensure its sustainability.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration, the immediate past Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, said the vegetable market would help farmers sell directly to consumers and reduce dependence on middlemen.
According to him, many farmers have access to farmland but lack organised markets where they can connect directly with buyers.
“Off-takers often purchase produce at low prices, while retailers make significantly higher profits. The idea behind this project is to connect buyers directly with farmers so that farmers can earn better returns on their produce while consumers also get fair prices. The market will sustain itself because it is being implemented in partnership with the state government, making it easier to manage and maintain,” he said.
