Excel Cooperative finalises plan to create farm estate

In line with the current diversification drive of the Federal Government, Excel Multipurpose Cooperative is set to create a farming estate to boost agricultural production and ensure food security in Nigeria.

This was made known to journalists by Kayode Vincent, president of Excel Multipurpose Cooperative during the organisations intensive training programme for existing and aspiring framers held recently in Lagos.

“The cooperative currently have 100 hectares of cassava farm at Igbobi- Epe but this is still in small-scale. We want to create a farming estate where will focus on both crop and livestock production,” Vincent said.

“We have applied to the Lagos state government to give us land so that we can achieve this,” he added.

The president of the cooperative stated that the initiative of establishing a farming estate was as a result of the need to support youths in the society by equipping them with necessary skills and the support to become successful entrepreneurs.

“We need to feed our people, the market is there and there are lots of opportunities in the agricultural sector to create jobs for our youths,” said Vincent who is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church.

He stated that a lot of people failed in crop production because they lack the necessary skills needed for farming. He urged Nigerians not to become farmers because others are farming but should become farmers because they are equipped and have a lot of passion for it.

Also speaking to journalists, Olufemi Obaweya, chairman-planning team, Excel Multipurpose Cooperative said “if you look at the churches now you find a lot of people looking for what to do, so we decided that instead of giving them fish why not create an environment for them to fish and that is why we are doing initiative.”

“Despite the current economic downturn, people should be able to feed themselves and agriculture is the way to go to achieve that,” Obaweya said.

He noted that ones the problem of food is addressed, three-quarter of the problems in the society are solved.