• President Buhari to unveils NALDA achievement Thursday
Abubakar Yunusa Abuja
Despite the devastating effects of flooding on farmlands and the high inflation, National Agricultural Land Development Authority NALDA has said Nigeria will not have a food shortage in 2023.
This is as he said President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, at Eagles squares, showcase the achievement of NALDA, adding that the agency was moribund before Buhari resuscitated it.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, gave the assurance while briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria will not experience food shortage next year.
According to him, “I can assure you that Nigeria will not have any food shortage in 2023 any predictions towards that direction is a doom prediction because awareness has been created towards going into farming.
“Now the Youth are thinking towards farming, a lot of people are going into farming. So why would we have a food shortage?is it a result of laziness or climate change, or what!?.
“And if it is climate change is beyond human capacity, but by the virtue of provision, support, and encouragement that comes from the government to encourage people to go into farming, there won’t be a shortage of food in 2023.
He said this government is providing farmers assistance and NALDA is in a position to support farmers with land preparation, capacity building, and support to see that we achieve food security saying that 2023 will be a more fruitful year for Nigeria.
“I don’t see Nigeria going hungry in 2023. You will agree with me that the President was already prepared not knowing that there will be something called COVID-19 and people did not suffer from hunger.”
Speaking further, she said President Muhammadu Buhari the agency back for the purpose to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture, and tackle the issue of land preparation, land clearing land and development and since then till today NALDA has been progressive and made a positive impact in the lives of Nigerians
He said, “Currently we are doing 500 hectares of wheat production in this dry season farming, There is no way you cannot come and bring these 500 hectares and begin to showcase them.
he said some of the achievements would be seen on Paper while the name of the location of the place would be mentioned so that the public would get to know what Mr. President has achieved in Agriculture using NALDA.
“As we all know as Agric reporters and Farmers, Agricultural business is not something that you start today and you start harvesting today, is a process, so be in a process, NALDA is progressing.
“When we came on board, there was nothing that NALDA inherited. This administration of Mr. President did not inherit anything in terms of equipment or infrastructure from the old NALDA, but as we speak today, NALDA has offices almost in all 36 states, including the FCT. NALDA has acquired”, he said.
