By Felicia Imohimi
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has inaugurated a vegetable market in Yemaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve market access and reduce post-harvest losses.
The facility is expected to improve market efficiency for horticultural producers, create income opportunities for farmers and enhance the marketing of agricultural produce in the state.
NALDA Executive Secretary, Mr Cornelius Adebayo
the market was designed to bridge the gap between agricultural production and market access, a challenge that has continued to limit profitability for farmers across the country.
He said the market would serve as a critical link between producers and consumers by providing a structured platform for the aggregation and sale of horticultural produce.
“The true value of a farm is not measured by what is harvested from the soil, but by how efficiently that harvest reaches the market.
“The NALDA vegetable market is strategically located to provide a buffer between producers and consumers, ensuring that farmers have access to organised markets where their produce can be sold efficiently and profitably.
“This project forms part of NALDA’s broader agricultural transformation agenda under the Green Hope Project, which seeks to develop the entire agricultural value chain from production to marketing,” he said.
Adebayo said the authority was implementing its Open Field Horticulture Project in Cham, Talasse and Tudu communities in Gombe State to empower rural women through commercial horticultural production.
He said no fewer than 100 women farmers had been enrolled in the programme and allocated about 1,000 square metres of farmland each for the cultivation of various vegetable crops.
According to him, the beneficiaries are receiving improved seedlings, extension services, irrigation facilities and other production inputs to enhance productivity.
“Our goal is not only to increase production but also to guarantee profitability and sustainability for farmers.
“NALDA has invested in irrigation infrastructure across the project sites, including the drilling of boreholes and installation of irrigation systems, to support year-round cultivation.
“We have also provided supporting infrastructure such as cold rooms, cloakrooms and sanitary facilities to improve post-harvest handling and create a more conducive working environment for farmers,” he said.
The executive secretary added that security posts had been established to safeguard project assets and ensure the safety of participating farmers.
He said produce harvested from the horticultural clusters would be aggregated and marketed through the newly inaugurated vegetable market, creating an integrated agricultural ecosystem that supports production, storage and sales.
Adebayo also disclosed that the authority had proposed the expansion of the NALDA Mega Farm Estate Programme across the North-East following the commencement of agricultural development activities in Dass, Bauchi State.
He said about 500 hectares of land were currently being cleared and developed in Bauchi State, with plans to replicate similar large-scale agricultural investments in Gombe and other states.
According to him, the proposed mega farm estates will feature modern agricultural infrastructure, including farm hostels, warehouses, administrative buildings, processing centres, irrigation systems and access roads to support commercial farming operations.
“This project aligns with the Federal Government’s food security and economic diversification agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme.
“Strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure will help create jobs, empower women and youths, attract private investment and accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” he said.
He commended the immediate past Executive Secretary of NALDA, Mr Paul Ikonne whose administration conceived and delivered the market.
Adebayo commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe for supporting agricultural development initiatives and creating an enabling environment for NALDA programmes to thrive.
He also appealed to the state government to provide additional land to enable the authority to scale up its interventions and accommodate more beneficiaries.
The NALDA boss acknowledged the contributions of community leaders, farmers, development partners and other stakeholders to the successful completion of the vegetable market project.
He urged beneficiaries and stakeholders to take ownership of the facility, protect it and utilise it effectively for the benefit of present and future generations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration, the immediate past Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, said the market would help farmers sell their produce directly to consumers and reduce exploitation by middlemen.
According to him, many farmers have access to farmland but lack organised markets through which they can sell their produce directly to buyers.
“As a result, off-takers often purchase produce at low prices, while retailers make significantly higher profits.
“The idea behind this project is to connect buyers directly with farmers so that farmers can earn better returns on their produce while consumers also get fair prices.
“The market will sustain itself because it is being implemented in partnership with the state government, making it easier to manage and maintain,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
FUA/TAK
Edited by Tosin Kolade