The Federal Government has established an integrated farm estate on 100 hectares of farmland in Sokoto, consisting of an animal husbandry, cow pens and milking parlour, maize and millet plantation, among others.
This is in a move to curtail farmers/herders clashes in the country.
It said the facility, being developed by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, would sustain itself and reduce the movement of cows within the area and halt clashes between herders and farmers.
The farm estate among others has a modern animal husbandry farm with a cow milking parlour with a capacity of 200 cows in a set, 500 cow pens, napier grass on 50 hectares, and the construction of clinics/veterinary sections, poultry feed mill as well as a crop farm to boost food production.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA Paul Ikonne while inspecting the project stated that the authority is developing a modern animal husbandry farm that would sustain itself and reduce the movement of cows within the area.
He noted that in line with President Mohammadu Buhari’s directives, NALDA is committed to achieving food security and development, as he assured that the farm would generate employment, hygienic milk production and cow fattening for meat.
Ikonne revealed that the youths would also be trained on the farm so as to encourage them to go into animal husbandry
He stated that the animal husbandry farm would be located at Dabagin-lafia, opposite the Usman Danfodio University farm, while the poultry feed mill is situated in Dayin village along the road to Doba, in Sokoto State.
“He revealed that the 100 hectares of farm land was donated by Prime Ranch Ltd for the animal husbandry farm adding that napier grass field and will cultivate maize and millet on 30 hectares of the said land adding that the napier grass field would aid feed production for the cows and eliminate roaming around of the animals in search of feed, thereby curtailing farmer/herder clash.
The DG revealed that about 400 people to work directly involved in animal husbandry.
“The employment chain will not be anything less than 400, consisting of workers who would be directly involved in these activities.
