By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, and Agbeyewa Farms Limited, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to clear 5,000 hectares to expand cassava production to expand a 3,000-hectare cassava plantation in Ekiti State, on the launch of a Joint Venture, JV.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, NALDA, Engr Cornelius Adebayo, expressed optimism that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the nation’s agricultural sector revolution.

Adebayo explained that the partnership basically is to upscale cassava production towards, enhancing food and nutrition security, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global cassava value chain.

He further stated that based on the arrangement, Agbeyewa Farms Limited will repay the land-clearing cost over a period of time at a reduced rate, in order to promote sustainability in the agric space, adding that similar support is being given to other projects in Delta and Kwara States.

He said: “Government cannot run enterprises. Our job is to provide the enabling environment for private investment to thrive.

“Agbeyewa has proven to be the best and largest in cassava cultivation; they deserve to anchor our Ekiti Mega Farm Estate.

“We are encouraging large-scale farming, in-grower systems, and farm estate clusters. This model will not only boost food production but also make Nigeria competitive in cassava exports.”

Meanwhile, according to the NALDA boss, the MoU was on the heels of his official visit to Agbeyewa Farms Limited in Ekiti State, where he saw commitment, resilience and effective and efficient operations by the management, therefore, he was convinced to prioritise on cassava under NALDA’s focal crops.

Also, he (Adebayo) in his remarks commended Tinubu-led economic policies in terms of restoring investors’ confidence that had led to the attraction of international business firms on the nation’s agricultural sector, which had made agribusiness to gain traction.

In the same vein, he disclosed that NALDA had received partnership enquiries from six foreign investors in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Agbeyewa Farms Limited, Oscar Ayeleso, lauded the Adebayo-led NALDA for fulfilling its promise of partnership and support, which Ayeleso described as collaboration is a dream come true.

“This collaboration is a dream come true. Agbeyewa Farms started three years ago with 3,000 hectares of cassava and plans to expand to 5,000 hectares this year. Our goal is to become the largest cassava farm in the world,” Ayeleso stated.

According to him, He disclosed that Agbeyewa Farms Limited had created over 2,300 jobs including 444 managers and 1,100 farmers, while National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members has been engaged as trainees receiving good pay, and adding that, “Our yield last year was 35 tonnes per hectare, and we are targeting up to 40 tonnes this year. Every hectare cultivated can make a farmer a millionaire”

He further stated that, “We are transforming rural communities by promoting mechanized farming and youth empowerment.”

He also said the company remains resolute in driving government policies that would boost food and nutrition security, job creation, promotion of processing and exports, therefore, the company is serving as a casava supply hub to processors including Nestlé and SQC.

Earlier, Technical Adviser to the NALDA, Executive Secretary, Engr Olusegun Owolabi, said the partnership wants to achieve what he described as resource sharing, innovation, and risk management.

“This MoU provides a guiding framework to strengthen collaboration and ensure transparency.

“It will serve as a model for future partnerships across NALDA’s cluster projects, including greenhouse, poultry, livestock, and plantation developments”, Owolabi added.