The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), has established a modern integrated vegetable market to curb post-harvest losses at Kwadon community in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The 160-shop market project was being executed in collaboration between the authority and the Gombe state government.
The market was designed to serve as a one-stop hub for farmers and consumers to trade perishables, boost agricultural value chain, and prevent post-harvest losses.
Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, said this during the inauguration of the project, on Wednesday in Kwadon, Yemaltu/Deba, Gombe State.
He said the project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to achieve food security.
Yilwatda said the president was investing resources to support rural farmers, and ensure that agricultural value chain was harnessed for the prosperity of the country.
“We will ensure that rural people use agriculture as a prosperity for themselves and common prosperity to our nation” he said.
He commended NALDA for investing in rural communities to create farm houses and centres to encourage irrigation, rain-fed agriculture, and aggregate produce into the market.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya said the synergy between the local, state and federal government resulted in the construction and equipping of the market.
Inuwa said that the proximity of the market to the industrial park, where a tomato processing factory is being constructed would harness the value chain to create wealth for farmers.
“The complete value chain from the farm to the industry and to the market will be served, and that is the essence of the collaborative efforts we are doing between the state and the federal government” he said.
Mr Cornelius Adebayo, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, NALDA, said the market would provide a linkage for vegetable farmers and consumers.
Adebayo said the authority has completed irrigation and cold storage facilities in the state, to support farmers and boost food security in the country.
He said the Renewed Hope Mega farm, which is being constructed across the country would soon commenced in Gombe as the state governor expressed willingness to allocate land for the project.
Adebayo also said that lands have been prepared for farmers to cultivate vegetables this cropping season, to ensure steady supply to the newly constructed market.
He lauded the governor for his support towards the development of the agriculture sector to empower people and create jobs.
The Gombe government constructed perimeter fencing, 1.3 kilometres road and solar-powered boreholes and streetlights at the market.