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The Cross River Basin Development Authority, says it has introduced the Songhai Agriculture Model in Mbiabo Ikoneto Community to encourage farmers to take up farming as a major income earner.
The Managing Director of the authority, Mr Bassey Nkposong, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, the partnership, in liaison with local farmers, youths and women in the community is expected to reduce unemployment, poverty and promote food security.
The Songhai Model of Agriculture, practiced in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, has the capacity to create highest level of agricultural productivity through the use of natural resources for optimum benefit.
Nkposong said the Federal Government was ready to change the mindset of the future generation toward a conscious appreciation of agriculture as a way out of the nation’s economic problems.
He said the authority was not buying the land from the community, but was partnering with them with a view to adding value and improving on the productivity of the farms.
According to the managing director, when the formal Memorandum of Understand (MoU) is signed, the terms of engagement will be spelt out for the smooth take-off of the project.
He also appreciated the community for accepting to host the Authority.
Responding, the Clan Head of the community, Chief Etubom Ani, said the present economic realities in the country had opened the eyes of most Nigerians to see agriculture as the way to go in the country’s quest for food security.
He pledged the community’s commitment to the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Programme, saying it was the panacea to Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
Nkposong said his community was ready to take advantage of the programme by providing and developing the needed land.
He commended the authority for choosing to do business with the community.
Ani called for the inclusion of women and youths in the proposed scheme, which he said could assist in banishing poverty and unemployment in the area.
“My community would not only support the Authority but would equally ensure that a conducive working environment is created for the smooth operation of the scheme,’’ he said.
The Federal Government had in 2016 signed an MoU with Songhai Farms, Porto-Novo, Benin Republic to harness and exploit the resources of River Basin Development Authorities across the country.