By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AN agribusiness firm, Sweer Global Farms, Monday, hailed the impact made by the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, funded project tagged Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, Project.

Speaking with Vanguard, the Chairman, Sweer Global Farms, Dr Thaddaeus Thompson, said the Niger Delta region is not only.blessed with oil and gas resources but has a great agricultural potential that can solve the problem of the region if properly harnessed.

Thompson noted that the LIFE-ND Project came at the right time to transform the lives of millions of young people, women and Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, and he also acknowledged the success stories recorded so far since the Project commenced.

He asserted that with the sustained tempo of the Project many youth who have benefited from it are now living above poverty and crime, because they now have focus and business generating income for them and their families courtesy of LIFE-ND Project.

He said: “People think the Niger Delta region is volatile and hostile to investors and foreigners. This is deeply untrue. 

“We in Sweer Global Farms believes strongly in the abundant agricultural endowment of the region, therefore, we decided in 2018 to invest by establishing huge hectares of farms in Amassoama of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

“We currently cultivated yam, cassava, plantain including cucumber along with installing processing machines for cassava. Our company is purely into organic food production and in accordance with best global agronomic practices.

“Meanwhile, we have also taken a critical look at the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, Project, implemented by the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in the nine States of the Niger Delta region, and this has been a flagship agribusiness project that has dramatically changed the narrative in the region.

“The modus operandi of LIFE-ND is amazing, and the sustenance of the Project stands it out. Looking at the impact made on them lives of youth, women and Persons With Disabilities is really amazing. 

“We can see the jobs created and agribusinesses established, whereby some have become incubators training other incubatees.

“The success stories recorded are breathtaking. This Project has brought joy, peace and focus in them lives of youth in the region. We as an agribusiness firm commends the Federal Government, IFAD and NDDC for the great job.”

However, he counseled that the Project should be expanded to more Local Government Areas, and also include vulnerable groups including retirees, inmates at correctional centres, rehabilitated drug addicts and prostitutes, and also widows.