WorldStage– The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has inaugurated the Farms and Agro-allied Cooperative Society targeting about 600 hectares of lands for cultivation at the Special Operations Command (SOC), Bauchi.
The service also began planting 10,000 tree seedlings at the SOC base and Bauchi host communities.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, inaugurated the programme on Tuesday at the NAF Special Operations Command, Bauchi.
Aneke was represented by AVM A Kotun, Managing Director, NAF Farms and Agro-allied Cooperative Society Ltd.
He said the initiative was designed to boost food security, agro-allied enterprises, improve personnel welfare, and climate resilience for sustainable social and economic development in the country.
Aneke said that the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda to enhance food security, job creation and environmental sustainability.
He said that the farms and agro-allied cooperatives society would encourage applications of modern techniques to encourage productivity, value addition and agro processing.
“NAF is committed to not only defending the nation’s territorial integrity but also to encourage sustainable development in crop production, livestock, poultry and aqua culture as well as value addition,” he said.
While pledging continued collaboration with the Bauchi state government, financial and educational institutions, Aneke urged personnel of the service to avail themselves of opportunities of the scheme to improve their wellbeing, boost food security and environmental sustainability.
Also, AVM A Idris, the Commander, Special Operations Command, said the initiative was a shared vision to promote food security, personnel welfare, environmental sustainability and economic empowerment.
“It demonstrates our commitment to the FG’s agricultural transformation agenda while contributing to the socio-economic development of our host communities.
“I am pleased that the cooperative has progressed beyond planning to implementation, significant milestones have already been achieved, including land preparations, mechanised cultivation, structured farm management and the commencement of the planting activities,” he said.
Idris lauded the Bauchi state government, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), banks and other development partners for their support to the scheme.
Group Capt. J.O Idowu, NAF Farm Manager, said that about 600 hectares of lands have been developed for cultivation under the cooperative society.
He said the society encouraged mechanised farming and clusters to boost productivity and value addition to the produce.
Idowu said the cooperative share costs N1,000 per unit, adding that membership was opened to both serving and retired personnel, investors and members of the host communities.
He said that the tree planting exercise was part of its afforestation programme aimed at promoting climate resilience and protecting the environment.
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi lauded the initiative, adding that the cooperative aligned with his administration’s agricultural transformation programme.
Represented by Iliyasu Gital, Commissioner for Agriculture, the governor said that his administration has initiated integrated agriculture programmes to encourage food production and climate resilience for sustainable development.
He said the state government also reinvigorated the Bauchi State Agriculture Development Programme (BSADP), and Bauchi Agriculture Supply Company (JASCO), for farmer support services, and enhanced access to fertilisers and inputs.
Mohammed pledged continued support to achieve food security, growing prosperity and sustainable environment.
Highlights of the event included the inauguration of nine units of tractors and symbolic planting of 3,000 tree seedlings.
