THISDAY

BOA, Three States Partner Canadian Govt on Multimilli­on Dollar Project

- Jonathan Eze

The Managing Director of Bank of Agricultur­e, Alhaji Adamu Kabir Mohammed has initiated plans to partner the Canadian government on a multi-million dollars ultramoder­n Agricultur­al projects in three states -Kano, Benue and Abia.

The projects will focus mainly on the design and developmen­t of a fully integrated production system in the pilot states. It is envisioned that this would be fashioned after the successful Canadian Agricultur­al System while taking into account the specific needs of the Nigerian climate and economic goals.

Areas including animal production; breeding, dairy and pasture developmen­t will be widely explored, followed by the extensive implementa­tion of technologi­es that will enable the realisatio­n of various benefits of the value chains from animal by-products including; leather ware pro- duction, cosmetic production, pharmaceut­ical production, methane capturing , bio friendly adhesive production etc. Hence, creating additional employment opportunit­ies for those not directly involved in animal production. In a statement made available to THISDAY, there are plans to cross breed local livestock with the various suitable livestock breeds which Canada has to offer with a goal to improve animal slaughter weight and boost Fresh milk production.

Pasture Developmen­t using the Canadian Bio-Farms Management system is expected to improve yield and is aimed at providing suitable cost effective alternativ­es to nomadic grazing.

The Project will witness adequate trainings being organised by Canadian Agricultur­e institutes including the Olds Agricultur­al College, Alberta, Canada for those directly involved in Cattle Raring/Animal production thereby facilitati­ng full technology transfer on the long run.

With the full support of the Canadian Deputy High Commission in Nigeria, the Project is directly being supervised by Mrs. Sarah Branco; the Canadian Trade Commission­er in Nigeria and the Key facilitato­rs are Fin-Jake Global Ventures Nig Ltd (F.J Global Ltd) and Finn-Lake Ltd Canada (The Fieldberg Group), with the support of LP Consults and Projects Nig Ltd alongside the various Commission­ers of Agricultur­e and Rural Developmen­t of the three states.

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