Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jun 8, 2018 20:13:15 GMT 1
HATCHERY PROJECT GETS BOOST. NDDC PARTNERS CROSS RIVER ON HATCHERY PROJECT
Years back,Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) partnered the Cross River State government, at ensuring mass production of day old chicks in its hatchery in Calabar, thereby boosting poultry production.
The Federal Government's intervention agency also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partnership with the Cross River State government, in order to ensure success of the agricultural project.
The total cost of the project was put at N376 million, with Cross River state government providing N250 million, while NDDC make available the balance of N126 million.
The MoU signing took place at the corporate headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
A senior official of NDDC signed for the intervention agency, while the Cross River government's delegation who was also the state's Commissioner for Agriculture signed on behalf of his state.
In his remarks, he said provision of food was gpvernment's agenda, with the partnership to ensure its attainment, thereby providing employment opportunities for the youth and other people of the Niger Delta and nation by extension.
Through the establishment of the hatchery, the managing director said the youths would be able to establish poultry farms, while the unemployment challenge in the region, which he said had gone to a critical stage, would be adequately addressed.
He noted that having the hatchery in Calabar would ensure the production of healthier and cheaper day old chicks, with food to also be provided for the teeming population.
He advised that factors that could lead to failure of the business must be eradicated, stressing that professionalism and competence must be considered in employing workers.
In spite of the competing needs for resources, the managing director said NDDC decided to support the "essential" project.
The leader of Cross River state delegation had earlier stated that the journey to install modern hatchery in the state had started years ago by the state government.
He oted that the hatchery would put an end to the hardship being encountered by farmers in travelling to Ibadan in Oyo State for day old chicks, with 40 per cent of the birds dying, while the cost would be added to the surviving ones. Before then, it was obvious farmers in the state could not compete with dressed chickens from the Western part of Nigeria, but would end with the hatchery.
The ultimate intention of government then was to provide enough for the entire Niger region, the entire country and also begin to export few to west African countries.
Unfortunately today, the story emanating from that laudable project has remained unpalatable.
Sad enough, the initial project was described by the NDDC as too small, which the intervention agency insisted must be expanded to serve the people of the Niger Delta, Nigeria and indeed for exportation to some African countries, describing the injection of funds by the commission as a step in the right direction but lack maintainace, continuity and focus.
Years back,Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) partnered the Cross River State government, at ensuring mass production of day old chicks in its hatchery in Calabar, thereby boosting poultry production.
The Federal Government's intervention agency also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partnership with the Cross River State government, in order to ensure success of the agricultural project.
The total cost of the project was put at N376 million, with Cross River state government providing N250 million, while NDDC make available the balance of N126 million.
The MoU signing took place at the corporate headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
A senior official of NDDC signed for the intervention agency, while the Cross River government's delegation who was also the state's Commissioner for Agriculture signed on behalf of his state.
In his remarks, he said provision of food was gpvernment's agenda, with the partnership to ensure its attainment, thereby providing employment opportunities for the youth and other people of the Niger Delta and nation by extension.
Through the establishment of the hatchery, the managing director said the youths would be able to establish poultry farms, while the unemployment challenge in the region, which he said had gone to a critical stage, would be adequately addressed.
He noted that having the hatchery in Calabar would ensure the production of healthier and cheaper day old chicks, with food to also be provided for the teeming population.
He advised that factors that could lead to failure of the business must be eradicated, stressing that professionalism and competence must be considered in employing workers.
In spite of the competing needs for resources, the managing director said NDDC decided to support the "essential" project.
The leader of Cross River state delegation had earlier stated that the journey to install modern hatchery in the state had started years ago by the state government.
He oted that the hatchery would put an end to the hardship being encountered by farmers in travelling to Ibadan in Oyo State for day old chicks, with 40 per cent of the birds dying, while the cost would be added to the surviving ones. Before then, it was obvious farmers in the state could not compete with dressed chickens from the Western part of Nigeria, but would end with the hatchery.
The ultimate intention of government then was to provide enough for the entire Niger region, the entire country and also begin to export few to west African countries.
Unfortunately today, the story emanating from that laudable project has remained unpalatable.
Sad enough, the initial project was described by the NDDC as too small, which the intervention agency insisted must be expanded to serve the people of the Niger Delta, Nigeria and indeed for exportation to some African countries, describing the injection of funds by the commission as a step in the right direction but lack maintainace, continuity and focus.
