Delta, Obasanjo Farms Sign Pact On Commercial Poultry Production
Wed Jun, 16 2010



From left, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Obasanjo Holdings, Elder Daniel Atsu and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Tony Nwaka, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Obasabjo Farms and Delta State Government, at Government House, Asaba, yesterday.




Delta state Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of N3billion with Obasanjo Farms to establish a commercial poultry production and processing venture known as “OFN-Delta Farm Limited.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tony Nwaka signed on behalf of the state Government while the Managing Director of Obasanjo Holdings Elder Daniel Atsu signed on behalf of their farm.

The state Governor,  Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at the ceremony  presented a check of N778.6 million as the state’s counterpart funding to make the programme a success.

Dr. Uduaghan who explained the significance of the Agricultural agreement said when functional the programme will have five units of poultry farms in the state.

He outlined the units of poultry farms to be established to include a broiler farm of 220,000  birds, a layer farm of 150,000 laying capacity, a rearing unit of 50,000 point of lay hens, a feed mill and broiler processing plant.

Explaining further, he said the new arrangement would empower Deltans through Agriculture and stabilize the economy.

The Governor explained that the MOU would facilitate the diversification of the state economy and reduce the over dependence on Oil and Gas.

“Today is very Historic because our journey to achieve our strategic goal of economic empowerment through Agriculture is being realized. Our economy should not depend entirely on Oil and Gas, we believe the state cannot be sustained only by Oil and Gas, that is why we are moving into Agriculture,” Dr. Uduaghan said.

He expressed joy that many investors such as Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga were interested in tapping into the resources in the state because of its strategic position and enjoined other stakeholders to create wealth for the benefit of the masses.

“We are no longer in the era of giving you handouts but in the era of creating wealth for ourselves. This task does not entirely depend on Government, individuals are encouraged to create wealth for our people,” Governor Uduaghan said, adding,  “we are determined to see that this project succeeds, we are big stakeholders in the project, by the time we finish this project, we shall be exporting processed chicken from Delta State”.

He therefore charged the youths in the state to go into poultry farming as the MOU has provision for consultancy service for poultry farmers to improve their farming methods.

In his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Tony Nwaka explained that the partnership with Obasanjo Holdings was a remarkable milestone in actualizing the three point Agenda of the Uduaghan administration.

He noted that the partnership is to establish a commercial poultry production and processing venture known as “OFN-Delta Farm Limited” at a communal farm in Ogwashi-Uku under private public partnership.

The Managing Director of Obasanjo Holdings Nigeria Limited, Elder Daniel Atsu explained that the partnership was the first of its kind in the country adding that the farm has over 30 years of sustained commitment to agriculture and has become a centre of excellence in food production.

He said the partnership would enable the farm to transfer technical skills, managerial competence and good will to Delta State and appealed to the state government to build the project to achieve success.

“Our farm project is a social and business service. We are moving Ota farms to Delta State, this will not only provide food for the people, it will provide employment and economic development,” he said.


Source:http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/Article.aspx?id=2687

 

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