In a quest to build synergy and clusters among farmers in the country and to encourage the exportation of our farm produce based on global standards, the Nigeria Shippers Council with other partnering agencies has embarked on an assessment visit to one of Kogi’s fast-growing producing farms.
Leading the delegates of professionals from different institutions and associations, the North Central Coordinator of Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Bestus Philemon described Aji Baba Farms as an opener towards the economic growth and global stage market of Nigeria’s produce.
While noting that with the wealth of experience of the founder of Aji Baba Farms and what he has been able to establish singlehandedly over the years, Mr. Bestus stressed that with more hands trained and synergy created, Nigeria will shift from being a consuming nation to a producing nation.
Mr. Bestus further stressed that the Nigerian economy will grow better if we start to export what we produce, just as he admonished stakeholders to help supports farmers in achieving the global best practices as related to exportation laws and guidelines.
While commending the farm founder for a worthwhile experience displayed at his farm and the community services he renders to the host community, Bestus promised that the visit won’t be the last of it as stakeholders will also meet to deliberate on what they saw and how they can utilize the opportunity prospects.
He further noted that government at all levels will need to be engaged and be advised on the need to farmers with resources and provide them with equipment that will help them effectively carry out farming on a larger scale to meet the exportation of our farm produces.
Earlier in his chat with newsmen, the founder of the farm, Mr. Joseph Ajisafe disclosed that he runs an integrated farm that is into production, processing, and marketing which started as far back year 2000.
Mr. Ajisafe further stressed that the vision of the farm is to be the best farm agricultural firm in Africa with a mission to reduce hunger and poverty within Africa and the world through best integrated agricultural practices and job creation.
He appreciated the Nigeria Shippers Council for the stakeholders’ interaction and assessment of his farm, stressing that the meeting sparked a positive fire in every one of them which will give birth to the state becoming a fulcrum of agricultural development.
According to him, his farm has the manpower, technical know-how, and technology knowledge to lunch into the global market which will start from expansion to other parts of t the state and African continent.
He disclosed that as of now his farm has a 75% value chain of palm trees ranging from palm kernel, palm kernel oil, palm kernel cake, and palm kernel shell with a future quest to produce briquettes which the machine are already on the ground.
In animal husbandry, the farm he said, is presently running fishery, poultry, sheep rearing, turkey, monkeys, and soon to start piggery farm. Under processing facilities, he disclosed that his farm is processing garri, waste from cassava pills for piggery farms and others.
He disclosed that his farm is hoping to start the exportation of briquette derived from palm kernel shell, palm kernel oil, and palm kernel cake which is used in the international body for animal formulation.
He also revealed that his farm is working towards investing in bio-gas generated from cassava waste and other sources of animal waste. He further emphasized the country is not fully maximizing its natural potential which he listed as; light, wind, mineral resources, waste, and many more.
Challenges he said are learning curves that have strengthened the growth of the farm. According to him, “When we started in the year 2000, we had people deliberately burning our farm, but with zeal and determination, we kept on planting and did not give up”. He said.
He stressed that grit, resilience, and passion to succeed are what have kept his farm alive and growing, adding that with prayers and determination, there is nothing any man cannot achieve.
While adding that with the right finance, the farm can be placed on the globe, he disclosed that the farm has grown without owning or accessing loan facilities from the farm. Adding that with support from the government, international bodies, and clusters created, Kogi State and Nigeria will be most sort after in the global market.
He further encouraged the younger generation not to prioritize money first but be driven by self-sacrifice which will pave the way for help. This help he stressed cannot come if they are not innovative, creative, hardworking, and skilled.
Also speaking to newsmen, the brain behind the assessment, Mr. Edwin Ignatius, the Kogi State Coordinator Nigerian Shippers Council commended the founder of the farm for availing them the opportunity to have access to his farm and key to his vast dream for agriculture revolution in the country.
He promised that all that has been discussed and recommendations given will be put together to form a working document for engagement with the government and relevant stakeholders.
Stakeholders that participated in the assessment visit are Members of the Kogi Shippers Association, Technology Incubation Center, Lokoja, Kogi Chambers of Commerce, IndustryMines and Agriculture, NASSI, Itors Global Ventures Ltd, astobell Nigeria Ltd, NEPC, Palm Oil Society, Kabba, Palm Oil and Garri Processing and others.