TUE 29 JUNE, 2021-theGBJournal- “Nigeria as a country, with coordinated effort can close the food shortage gap by 50% in the next five years. This, will not only impact on the food sufficiency, but greatly off load the burden of food import on our foreign exchange requirement, says Chief Martin Agbaso, MFR.
According to the renowned Economists and politician, it will create a much needed empowerment of young people and women through employment. It will in more ways than one improve on the security situation in our country by engaging restive youths in new interests.
He said a well-managed farm provides greater return on investment than most other sectors of the economy as we move towards less dependency on oil and gas. Boosting the nation’s foreign exchange through commodities and agricultural export cannot be over emphasized.
In taking the lead, Chief Martin Agbaso built one of the largest catfish farm in Africa, which has created about 600 direct jobs most especially for young people.
Agbaso Integrated Farms is an advanced technology driven integrated farm, setting the pace in production of quality fish, livestock and crops to serve Nigeria’s growing demand for locally grown fish, pork, poultry and vegetables. Located on 35 hectares of land in Emekuku a town within Owerri metropolis with a goal to harness and utilize Nigeria’s natural environment and workforce to create high quality affordable food.
The Agbaso Integrated farms is expanding in the area of multiple feed production, fish/poultry processing and packaging.
The local market created by Agbaso farms has moved beyond the south east, south south zones into the Lagos market and beyond.
This Initiative in integrated farming has a 1.5 million USD monthly export profile. Agbaso farm this year will produce about 36 – 40 million table size catfish and tilapia.
The management of Agbaso Integrated Farms has made heavy investment in building structures and a system that will sustain the vision of the farm.
There are over 2 kilometers of fish channels producing several tones of catfish and Tilapia at the farm. The fish farming section is designed to produced fingerlings, grow them into maturity and process them for export.
The farms integrated training program is embarking on multi-level training and empowerment of young people in agriculture. “We are poised to contribute our quota towards the achievement of full and abundant living for the ordinary Nigerian by joining the global efforts in obtaining self-sufficiency through sustainable agriculture” says the management of Agbaso Integrated Farms.
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