Nigeria will regain lost glory in agriculture says LOKPOBIRI

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri

The good news in the lips of all Nigerians especially the dynamic effort of the Federal Government under the present Administration is that Nigeria shall definitely regain her lost glory through Agriculture.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said the above during his facility tour to Lagos state when he visited the Atlantic Shrimps Farm, Badagry.

In a press release signed by Mr. Lere Adam, a DD,Information in the ministry, Senator Lokpobiri was quoted as saying that what he saw in the Altantic farms was very encouraging and that there is great hope for Nigerian economy to regain her lost glory in Agriculture.

 According to the statement, Atlantic shrimps farm is housed in a vast expanse of acquired 170 hectare of land around the Badagry beach with about 120 hectares been utilized. The Multi-Million shrimp’s farm houses varied facilities which take care of the shrimps from its hatchery, nursery stage to the large adult ready for the table for high nutrient meal.

Furthermore, the Minister happily said he was proud of this massive investment which has not only started ensuring increase foreign earnings, but has generated employment opportunity for over one thousand people in ration 90% Nigerians and 10% foreigner as the investor has also provided a Primary Health Care Centre which the minister commended

Lokpobiri however promised that the FG inter- ministerial committee would looked into their export challenges and issue of export certification thereby assuring government support to their investment in Nigeria.

The Minister said, with this renewed interest in the diversification of the economy with Agriculture leading more so with Nigeria holding best potentials for investment and also to makeup for the deficit in demand for shrimp, he sent out a Clarion call to all, both Nigerians and foreign interested individuals to invest in Agriculture which is the immediate sure alternative avenue for both wealth creation, employment generation, more so ensured food security and better health for living with the eating of high protein content sea food such as shrimps that is rich for every livelihood.

Earlier, the managing Director of the Farm, an Indian Mr. Kamlesh Kabra said the 100 Million Dollar Farm established in 2014 deals on fish import, trawling business of fish and wild shrimp for years, but with the Federal Government directives for all fish importers to go into Backward integration to reduce fish import, they went into farmed shrimps in compliance with Federal Government of Nigeria. Today they farm about 120,000 tons of shrimp annually. They are also strictly compliant with international standards and best management practices. The firm is owned by blend of Dutch, Nigerians, British and Indians.