We run cluster farms for investors, says Engr. Owolabi. M.O.

                   

The concept of cluster farming in one organized large mass of land to different interested investors will change the old order of scattered  small acreages to one-stop shop production, processing, and marketplace where banks and inputs dealers can easily accessed by participating stakeholders with government involvement by provision of infrastructure.  Said Engr. Mathew Olusegun Owolabi. .

Owolabi, presently a consultant to both private organized farmers and many government agencies,  an agricultural engineer, farmers, and processor who is currently running a cluster farms producing arable and cash crops for both local and export markets said the cluster farming concept would  change the narrative of small scale farming being done in a scattered small land areas  all over different locations without uniform agronomics application to give standard productivity.

He said that the purpose of promoting cluster farming is to encourage civil servants preparing to retire and other individuals within Nigeria and abroad to harness the potential in agriculture to secure  future living economically, adding that the concept will offer the opportunity of being able to invest in any type of crop through subscription  to three or  five hectares of land to cultivate cassava, coconut and palm-oil in a large mass of land in one location to ensure uniform best agronomic practices of great dividend on investment. .

‘’ We are going to use this cluster concept farms to change the old narrative of farming in small scale to large through  integrated production, processing and marketing in one shop stop towards easy access to  both government and private sectors  facilities in terms of loan facilities, standard inputs provision and social infrastructure like access roads, water and electricity for better productivity’’

Engr. Owolabi stressed that interested investors would have opportunity to invest in the cultivation of cassava, coco-nuts, and palm-oil saying the demand for these crops are on the high in abroad, adding that the fear of retirement by any individual would be a thing of the past as the dividend from the investment would be enough to absorb any economic shock being huge potential investment in agriculture portends for the future.

He added that ‘‘ integrated clustered farms Limited is out to give life to Nigerians within and abroad, especially the  civil servants who deserve  a better life after retirement by investing in clustered farms of three to five hectares where best agronomics practices will be deplored for exportable agricultural produce with premium prices’’

‘’This cluster template will definitely attract our youths into farming as well, just as it will solve the problem of mechanization because for example, 200 hectares in a place will enhance the use of  tractors than operating in a staggered small pieces of land scattered all over different locations. With one-stop shop cultivation the issue of security  can be easily handled as the land is well scientifically  mapped and insurance cover can as well be taken easily against flood and other disasters‘’ said Owolabi.