Farm estates not RUGA, ranches: FG tells Afenifere

The federal government has said the establishment of 109 Integrated Farm Estates has nothing to do with the establishment of Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) or ranches.

The Executive Secretary of National Land Development Authority (NALDA), Paul Ikonne, said this yesterday while speaking with some State House reporters at Owerri Airport, Imo State.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed NALDA to establish integrated farm estates in all the 109 senatorial districts to boost food production across the country.

But Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, had in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Jare Ajayi, accused the federal government of attempting to bring back the rejected cattle colony and RUGA through the establishment of the farm estates.

However, the NALDA boss said, “Well, it is unfortunate, it’s not another type or anything that has to do with Ruga. The Integrated Farm Estate, the president mandated us to put it in all the 109 Senatorial Districts.

“The project is meant for the community, to develop the community. What we have inside is poultry, fishery and piggery. So, it is for the people. The insinuation is meant to mislead people as a result of lack of understanding so to say.

“But the true position is that the integrated farm estate is designed to accommodate the youths from that community in order to engage them in the entire agricultural value chain.

“And it depends on what the community is known for and what the community is interested in going into.”

Ikonne, while speaking on President Buhari’s official visit to Imo on Sept. 9, said the visit clearly showed the president’s passion and love for the people of the South East zone of the country.