DING'S
THlSDAY, VoL 16,No. 6OOS, Pag< 47
- . Tn ' Combating Hunger, Unemployment Through Poultry Fanning;
Wednesday October 5, 2011
city
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The Memorandum of llllderstmlding (MoW behveen the Delta State govemment and Obasanjo Fanns Nigerin Limited to estnblish n cOl1lmeTCinl pal/1m) production and processing venh.Lre appears to be yieldingfrllits, one year after. Conceived to provide food securih} flI1d create employ· ment opportunih} among Deltans, the goals are being realised despite the initial hiccllps' and criticisms. Victor Efeizomor writes vara Kaslllluwu is II gnuluule of VClerinlity medicine
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from the Unh-eno.il)' of Agriculture. M:ll.urdi, Benuc Slllle. T\\Q years after grudualion.optimism sllU1.cd giving way 10 wpontlcncy as he WCUI lIuough the map ~1 ~1S of Lagos nnd Ahuja in search or job 10 no avai l. ~rt with no option. Kasinlu","'a pocked his blggage and returned
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his village, Ogw\lushi-Uku. in Aniocha -South local
gO\..·.f1uUelll are3 of Della Stale.
ProvitkllCl: played uid:s on him when less than 13 weeks he (Kasilllll wa) reulrnoo to OgwlL'lhi.Ul;u. the Obasanjo F1lffili Lmu.w (OFN)- Dclui Farm limi~, (a public - priv:IIC pan-
oership arr.rngtOll!III), offd"ed him employmen t liS 11 veterinary doctor. lie is currently undel}:oing a lmi nUlg programme altlle Obasanjo's Ona .Fann in Ogun SUIte. Alice EImbe~. wilh only s«ondliry school ccl1ificaJc . all !he couklllo to complelilent th: efforts of her husband and assisr the f,uni ly of six ~n Ughelli. ~ petty trading. But thing:;; be~8.l:"10 ch:mge for Ailee when ~he vlS!tl!d the OFN-Ddlll. Farms Imuted to registe r as II contr.lCIOf and w;;uibIJlOr. Now. Allee .;an boosl of large.scu le store where she. sells c:ggs.al~ other poUltry items ~ lIuccd from d~ OFN·Dc:ha Farms hmLli:d. She call now assm her h~banll 10 olTset some sundr), expensci and purchases food itenlS at home for the upkeep of the family from the prnc:ce.ds of the poult!)' wsh\CSS. TIll: Odlil SIJl1C gO\'CrnPlI:lII on June 16.201.0 signed an »'·h:~U of N3 billion with Obasanjo Farms to cstabllsh a coIIIHlCn.,al poultry produclion and pttX'leS3oing ~nrure known as ·"QFN·Delta Farm Limited... One year- lifter the project came. 00 stream. Dehalls. an.! the Slate govemment as well as other POU~rry. business.milWled individuals in :md amuntlthe Slate IlIe begmnmg 10 np the. beOi:fiu; of the. scheme as. the. issue o~ poveny CtIl ~ffC'C lively be uddressed wllh tile fulllmplemenlnuOll of till: proJ<!Cl. Es.scntially.l1Illllysts have 1Ug,u.:d ihatthe sche:nll: has SO many aJln"b.ltes such :eo empowering till: gr,J.SSrOOtS JXlPUlation.crc3ting rlCW weahh at uJ l levels. reducing unemployment , erealing job oJlportUnities and promoting small scale entrepreneurs. Expc:ctellly.ll lr. Osorulu Izuora. took advanlage oflhe sche~ 10 apply as egg distribulor and contr.K:tor to OFN·Delta Fnrm 11\ Ogwuashi-Uku. One rear aria, hc explains; '111C farm has lnuehed II lot of leaves 10 lhis lown, with the ~Ie of their eggs and other fann produ..."'C. it has hclJlCd 10 boosl my bwiincss durILl!:. tlus period. Sonll: of m)' custome.t"S IlfC Slly i ~g that t~y ha\~ Sl:i:n double yoke in the etlSS. so. the palIOUIlge 15 vt!l)' high IlIJd the price is \"ery reasonable:. Wc are \'ery pcfullo Ihe SlOIle govemmelll fur- tiling Slel's 10 minale this project. wc have stllfled bc:llCfitins rrom it.'· For RnsenUiry Ojc:ogwu. a poultry fanner. the OFN - Odw Famu is 11 GotI-scnl project for DeIIIUlS: '·1 have been buying Obailllljo paulII}' products sincc thep3St 10 y~.so ..... hen I d~. co\\!rcd thai Delta Slate go\'<!mmc:nl has cstabh!ohe.d ObasanJO Fwms in Delta and in Og~hi.Uku. my hcan is lit with joy. because I do not need to travel very far to buy their produce likc egg and poUltry reeds. il's a welcome. dcYdoplTk'IU in the stale, ""e are el1joymg their services." TIle OFN -DeiHl Farms entered in to Ihis IIgreemc:nt for the purpose of c:sublishing a comnll:rc:iuJ agricultural venture. com· prising. a broiler fnrm of an ultimate minimu.nl of 2~~ birds per cycle. of 618 ""~5 . a large f~ of ulumawe mmunu?l of ISO,DOO laying C-oIpacily and a mllllmnm of 50.000 of pomt of la), hens ill each cycle of 618 wed:s. TIle Obas:lnjo Fanus has L1l1: obligation 10 provide and install 1111 planlS and cquipmc:nt needed for the iake-off of the p~jea, including till: feed miU , processing plant and hatehry. while the Della SllIle governmenl shnll provide. land measuring approdmatdy 200 ho:cwes of fannlanll and the necess:u)' infrnstructurt needed. It 's eXpecied 10 invest fivc percent of ttll: share of ttll: annual net profit from thc project 10 designaled commullil)' de~\!lop11lent prog.r:unmes anti p'roject5. . , The fu.rm whieh has lhe CUpaclly of accommodaung a broiler farm of 220.000 binls.1I layer fann of ISO,{Xl) laying capacity, a
rearing unil of50,ooo point of lay hens. a fo:edmill and b!Oiler processillg pllUU bas employed 00 less than 7-1 IkltllJlS In VllflOl!S ""ukforoe eapacity. lnvcstit;ations revClllell th.1l poulL!)' (arolers III the 5Ute. and from otbr:r neighbouring illites like An3mbm.espccially businessmen anll women from OnilSha an: pallooising the fanm very ..... ell . Governor Emmallucl Uduaghan, while explaini~g the. sigf!iIi· cana: of the ,gricuhur.d IIgroemetll recent ly. 53.ld the JIfOJC'CI wou ld halle five unilS of poultry funns in the: state. He addet.I thai the: unilS of poultry farms to be established. includ ing a broiler funn of 220fXIJ birds. a layer fnrm of 150.000 laying capacitY.:i ~ng unit of 50,000 point of lay hens. a fcedmiU and broiler proCCS!;ing planl. Explaining further. Ill: s:lid the: new arr.mgemcnt ""'ould empower Odtans thruugh agriculture IIIJd 5111hilist: the ecooomy, .. . "Thc gOvenJCC"CIlplaincd Wt tt\( l\toU would facllit:ite the dIVersification of the Stale's economy and reduce the o\"er-dcpe:nikIlCC: 01.1 oil and gas: "Our journey 10 ach)cve oW" Slr.IIC:gjc goa.! of ec0nomic: C:l11powc:rme.nt through agriculture is being n:alised. Our ecooomy shaulll noc depenll elllirely on ail anti gas. we believe tt l<! state. talulOl be sUStained only by oil anti gas. thai is why we lUe moving inlo agriculture." He expressed joy dmt man)' invcslors such as MeSSlll Aliko Dangote. and Mike Adenugil W~ inlCfblCd in upping inlO Ihe r CSOllft%S of the stale because: of ilS W"lItC1:ic: position and cnjoin.::d other stab::holders 10 create. wealth for till: benefit of ttll: masses. "We are 00 longer in the era of giving)'Ol.l handouts but in lhe era of crealing wealth for OlIflic!lves. TIlis titSk does not entirely depend on gO'iemmc:nt, individuals are encouraged 10 CRilie wealth for our peopk::' Udu:;ghan said, He added funher: ~We arc: Uetemlil1ed ta sec L1lat this projet:t succec:ds. we are big stakeholders in Ihe project. by L1lc lime we futish this projc:.::l. ""'C sillill be: e."<pot1ing processed ehickc:u (rom Odin St:lte:' He lherefore: charget.lllll: youths in the state. 10 go in to poultry fanning as the MoU has provision ror consultancy service for poultry farmers to improve their fanmng methods. Delta SllI1e CommissiOl1er fOf AgricultW1: and Nlllu r.d Resources. Mr. Misan Ukubc:yinjc:. has allayed fears in SOIl"': quar~ IUS that the N3 billion Obas:mjo--Odt:l Stale g.:)\'c:mment joinl farm projecl ....'OUld be ab:mdoned. He: oolnlnended the. 50Iaie g()\" emor far till: initililive Ilnd d.:scribc:d the partnership ill ..... hich DcJUI StOlte has orlC·thinJ equity holding "ss laudable. anll a catalyst for agricullllrol rc.voJul ion in till: stille." The conunissioner said: "'The (arm will provide: a ready market for high quality feeds. u~b le ergs. p~ chick~!, as ",ell ~ day-old chicks when it scans operaling III full cap;K:IlY.~ He s:ud lhe venture was capable of ofTering employmenl 10 300 youths. Fonner Sl:lle conuniss.ionc.r for agricu lture. Dr. TOllY Nwaka. explained WI the partnersh ip with ObasanJO Holdings W".IS a remarkable milcstone: in octualising tl~ three.poilll agendo of the Uduaghan IIdministration. He noted that the p:u-tner.ihip is 10 cscablish:. commen:ial poultry production and proc.c:s.sing ventW1: mown as "OFN·Oc:ltn Farm Limiled" at a communal fnrm in Ogwashi UbI under pnV1Ue:-public partnc.rsltip. The Managing OirectorofObas:anjo Holdings Nigeria Limited , Mr, Daniel AISU. explaiucd thai the. paltncr.Jl.ip was the first of iLS Idnd in ttll: country adding that the fnnn has over 30 years of sus· tained commitment to agricu llllre ami has become II centre of excellence in food prodllClion. He SAid the partnership wou ld enable. the rann \0 \Iallsfer ItCIuUcaI sk.ills. managerial competc:IlIX and goodwill to Deh3 Slate and IIPpealed to dll: St:lte govemmenl to build the project 10 achiC\'C $UCttS.S. '"Our fann project is. socia.! and business service..We are mov· ing Ota fann.'lla Delu SWle. th is will not only provide food for the. people, il will provide employment and economic development;' he. iaid.
The OFN- Delta fann man&j er. Mr. Feranmi Omoni},i explained futtll<!r: " If we are 10 OJlI:l""Ble in full cllp.len)', we can accommod'lle 150.000 laying birds. we eWI alio at.:Commoo:lle 2OCl,(X)() ofhrailer. lI.e ate not inh, till: pmlluctioll of broiler. but we: life into the. PrOOllClion ofbi.rd!. Ihal IllY eggs and we ["¢CCh'ed 81. 830 birds lhal can proJucc 1. )(lO 2(.(X) ef;Jtes of eggs dolil)' even when they hal'C not. reached Ihc.u- production pic].:.... Be further added: ~We h3ve • ~tat1 stn:ngth of aCout 80 while 74 pc:rsollSare from Odla Siale ..... : ha\"C l"O/l~ sWiof ~t ISO .....or\;ers ......e alio have about 100 CUSlll.-nas comprlS!ng lIislrib\lIars lind eonlIlLClors 10 Ihe farm. majority of diem iUl: DcltllJlS, Our manllgc:mc:nl I<!oII,1 comprises. th:t produc.lioo manager. l!CCOWI(;U1I. auditor. ~lOic 01T1Ct:f. SC'CUrtl)' SUpe"·ISOf. 1111 of wlll,)m ure: Dcllans in the fm 1\1" II: further explained thai lile eh.1lle:ng<!s thc:y I!a\·e in nuuung the fanus. r-...nged from security IJ di:Ct,icity as its opcr.nions had bc:c:n 011 dies<!1. 11:Us. he. ~id . has affected tlk cmt of produclion.just as tlk:y produce 1.,l()"' crollCS o( ew 00 tb il,y bases, wilh approxill1:ilely 8 1,830 birth . lie u(kle.d th:1I the b1f\is Ihat llll:Y hal'e 00 Ihe farm 110"" are: fot labl,e raeats. . . Commissioner for Informalion , Chike Ogcah. m Ius rem:ul.:i said: " The OrN-o.eltil Famls r.:p!:50:111 ;1 major Shop in lhe con· ccrti!d programme of diversifying the. Ct.:(lIIomy of Delta SUle. WitJl a hroile.r farm of220,IXIO birch. a b )'er (ann of ISO ,(nl I:i~ ' jng capiiCity, -acing unit of SO,l)A) pollll ~f Io.IY hens. a fc:cdmill 'aod broiler ....u .iSing plant. the fQ1Tl1 "10111 empo ....·C/" [k1l:i11S Ihrough agriculwre lind stabil ise: til: c:.cooOIllY." He further staled Ihat llll: fam l a:, a palUlCrship ",,'uuld tr.ll\Srer technical skills. manageriaJ comp;:I(t.ce and goodwill to Ikli;l Slate.. lidding Ihal it is a soc::i.alIUlJ business ~ice thlll: wuulJ key inlO the: existing agro--ccollon ,y of Ihe: stille Wid UltllllOllei)' take a life of ilS own . Senior Special AssiSllini to Ga\"Hnor Udullghun on ComnlullicatiQn. Mr, fJul Ollili. wl.ile co,nmenting un til<! dc\'d oprJklll. said ....·he:n the. governor ~ ame b.) office over four )'ears ago he enullc iated his vl~ion of buiIJ"I~ II Delt.. bi:yond 011. 11I1Chor.:d on his Ihru' POlllt agend:. af pc.liCe IIl1d ~lInty, human IU1d IIItTastru..:ture dc\·c:lopment. OJili poimed OUI: ·'Agneultu,,· was line are~ !he .!:o\'.:mor lumed his "lIenl)oo to and for gOA n:a:;cln. Agocultun: eo one: area that can employ mass of pc<.lpl¢ as \'Jell "" t.:an l!u;lr.lIlt«. food lOCCurity and Iherdure redu;.:e povelly. To actualisc this , differenl iCht:ll1o!' b3ve bc:c:n employc:d: pc.3S' ant fam1C:f!i ~IIPpot1 sc:oone. youth enlpGwCl1llCUI Ihrough 1lgri· culture (VETA) mJ now the parIOL.rship wllh Obasanjo (mils. '1"hcse ~ IIloYC bce.n c.\Irc:md)' ;;uo.:o;s,.iul ulthough a 101 1Jt:eLis la be done. Going illln jAUlncrslup with OFN is as stratcgy to encuum~e big priv;;1C ~etor pI~}ers to COOle inlo Delta co.x-oOllly. From what has Ilaf,lt:l1cd Ihe mte:rc:;;;t and patronIIge this project has lIrawn. the Or"'NlDcha Limiled Fanlls will tum ()UI to be a sJ)()V,-pic:ce. Anll dr.. wong {!"Om the c!);perio:na: ""'e have. had.GoverOOl Uduaghan has been looking and ellt"oumging other enlrepr..:m:ur.. to corne (OIW(u"d anti p.1.rmer the Siale gO\'cmme.nl.
- lie is evtn encouroging young lkhans even at primary and secondary SCh{)(i1.510sc:ellgricultur~ as IUl ~ ofoppunullity, h! hopes 10 boost the wpply chain 0,10 '!:Iiculwre by lOO(i\OIl inl young people to follow this path III .51J5\alll his \'ision and al tlie SAllie lime replace the aging farmct".., . "My opinion is llilil ~idc:rin8 ~ 'hal !son th~ ground III tenns of pnlicy and progmmmes, ),oon2 p;:opl~ should c..11 011 their rrui tlcss search for while collar ;OIlS Alld =: IIgricult ure as all opportunilYIII actual~ their dream;;." lie posited that ultimotcly, UdllHghan \lillnlS lkha 10 be lhe breatlbasl:el of the: COOlitry. I10l jtJiI producing agricull ~ for \."oosumpnon bul as processed S10ck mat increases ttk': value eluin and boost the ecanomy of 1111: state