Shonga Holdings, a conglomerate of commercial farms, initiated by the current administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki in Kwara State has added to its list of accomplishments, the commencement of a chicken processing plant. This continues the drive of Dr. Bukola Saraki to diversify the economic base of Kwara State and make Kwara State the food basket of the country. The commercial agriculture project of the Kwara State has been pursued with commendable vision and will, and is a challenge to other states in the country to confront the developmental needs of the country imaginatively and decisively.

Journalists recently visited the plant, and were given a tour of the state of the art facilities available at the plant, which is the most technically advanced plant of its type in West Africa.The head of operation at the plant Mr Piet Dutoit, told journalists that the plant was currently processing 2,500 chickens per day, although it had a capacity for 10,000. According to him, the farm currently employs 42 workers - all natives of the host community, and more hands would still be required as the farm expanded.

During a recent tour of the farms, Dr. Bukola Saraki to the farms expressed satisfaction with what the processing factory had been able to achieve since its commencement. The governor commended the operators the use of state-of-the-art technology. He described the development as a practical demonstration of using agriculture and agro-allied companies to drive the economy. According to him:

“With the success story of Shonga farm and the dairy factory as well as the coming on board of the new chicken processing factory, am very optimistic that agriculture is capable of diversifying the economy, thereby reducing the overdependence of the country on oil. This is proof that it can be done and a challenge to other parts of the country,”

Governor Saraki speaking on the multiplier effect of the poultry farm on the economy corroborated the general manager that processed chickens from the farm would be supplied to household, retail shops, and super market in Ilorin and by extension Kwara State. He enjoined other states of the federation to emulate Kwara State in its drive towards agriculture.

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