About 1000 farming households are expected to benefit following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRDA) and a private firm, Amisek Industrial Company Limited, for the utilisation of 1000 hectares at the Doma dam for the cultivation and processing of sesame for export.
Abdulmuttallib Mohammed, MD/CEO, Amisek Industrial Company Limited, disclosed this when a team comprising the management of the firm, as well as the management of the LBRBDA led by its Managing Director, Engr. Terese Ninga, paid a courtesy visit at the Government House on Wednesday.
According the the Amisek Managing Director, having signed a partnership with the LBRBDA for the concession of 1000 hectares for a period of 15 years at the Doma dam, the company intends to devote 350 hectares of the land for its out-grower scheme, with about 700 households earmarked to benefit.
“We have signed a 15-year concession on a thousand hectares and we intend to develop 950 hectares of irrigated sesame farms. As I am sure the indigenes of Nasarawa State know, sesame and Doma are one and the same. However, not just sesame but certified organic sesame. 600 hectares of this will be a fully mechanised nucleus farm, where we deploy full mechanization and proper intensive farming. 350 hectares will be an out-grower block of 0.5 hectares per farmer,” he said.
Mohammed revealed that Amisek has special plans for its out-growers, with beneficiaries able to earn N3m annually, as well as train their children in agricultural mechanization.
“This project would directly create a 1000 small-holder out-grower farmers on those 350 hectares block. But the interesting thing is that we are not treating these farmers as individual farmers but as households. So, each household would be given 0.5 hectares to manage and has the potential of earning the N3m every year, with production happening twice.
“We will embed health insurance and education protocol in all of these. Instead of having your children working on the farm, you put them in the mechanization training school and when they done and ready, they will be able to operate our tractors and mechanization equipment,” he said.
He explained that, the Doma agrocity project, is conceptualised as an agricultural real estate project, that would create a system where there will be primary production, processing, storage, and trade of sesame especially for export to countries such as Japan, EU and the United States.
Mohammed added that his company, which is in full compliance with the smart opportunity and carbon credit footprint, has equally set aside 50 hectares for infrastructure, agro forestry buffers and other necessary amenities.
“These will include things like schools, agro tourism components and the likes. Energy is key for irrigation. So we would deploy solar irrigation. We also intend to put up a 10 metric ton per hour automated sesame processing plant, a fully mechanised service centre that would not only service those 1000 hectares but also all the other farmers in the local community. One megawatt solar mini-grid to feed the community and also power our operations. This is a fully integrated value chain,” he stated.
He described the Doma agrocity project as the first of its kind in the country.
Mohammed however sought participation in the project by the Nasarawa State Government in the areas of security and ease of doing business, pledging to partner with the state Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, as well as the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA).
Earlier, in an opening remarks, Managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA), Engr. Terese Ninga, said following the shared development aspirations between the agency and the Nasarawa State Government on the strategic Doma dam and irrigation project, they were at the Government House to formally inform Governor Sule about the partnership entered into with the Amisek Industrial Company Limited for the utilisation of the dam.
“We have recently signed a landmark Private Public Partnership (PPP) with Messers Amisek Industrial Company Limited. This partnership is a critical injection of tactical expertise and investment designed to breathe new life into the Doma project and unlock its immense potential for agricultural transformation, job creation, and water security,” he said.
Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed appreciation that having signed the partnership with the LBRBDA, Amisek Industrial Company Limited found it necessary to allocate 350 hectares for its out-grower scheme, making it possible for 1000 local farmers to benefit, with the company being the off-taker.
Governor Sule pledged the support and assistance from the state government towards making sure that the initiative succeeds.
The Governor directed relevant agencies in the state, particularly the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and NASIDA to engage with both the LBRBDA and Amisek with a view to efficiently and effectively participating in the partnership.