Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA) has launched two integrated farm projects in Okpe and Uneme Nekhua both in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo as part of the Federal Government agricultural transformation agenda.
The integrated farm projects modelled after the Songhai farm in Porto Novo, Benin Republic consist of production, processing, research enterprises, integrated crops, fisheries, animal husbandry and marketing.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Managing Director of BORBDA, Mr Saliu Ahmed said the establishment of the farms is to revamp agricultural sector and to ensure national food security.
Ahmed said the two community is to cultivate 100 hectares of farm each, adding that the integrated farm projects had following features: sales point, agro-forestry, market garden, feedmill, cassava and fruit juice processing units, abattior, biogas facility, a dormitory and lots more.
According to him, the farm projects would serve as a research and experimental hub for local farmers to learn new and productive methods of doing farm businesses.
“The Okpe and Uneme Nekhua integrated farms have the potentials to significantly improve the local production of cassava and several other crops, animal feed, poultry, pig, fish production in an integrated mannner that ensure nothing goes to waste.