Cade Creek International (CCI) a company from the United States of America has partnered with Youth Off The Streets Initiatives (YOTSI) is looking to set up a US $25m farm in the Osun State of Nigeria. The farm was set up earlier on this year in May.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Case Creek International, Patrick Alley, when fully operational, the farm would create over 6, 000 direct jobs. He further added that irrigation specialists would be brought from the US. In addition to providing jobs, the farm would also train people on modern methods of farming.
Mr. Alley also explained that different crops would be planted, emphasizing that a new cornflakes company opening soon in the country, would source its corn from the farm. President of YOTSI, Comrade Kennedy Nyere said his organization has, as one of its five cardinal programs-agriculture and food security. He also added that empowerment of the unemployed remains main motive behind the establishment of the farm.
According to Mr. Nyere, a team visited the site of the farm and conducted soil test. He also assured that YOTSi’s soil experts certified the soil good for farming. They were reportedly hosted by the Osun State at the time. Mr. Nyere also said that they used that opportunity to explain their mission.
Mr. Nyere further spoke of the assurance gotten from both the government as well as the community with regards to the safety of their investment. The community will be providing the land to be used for farming. The funds are to be a collective effort from both the American investor as well as YOTSI. The monarch Oba Magbagbeola commended Alley for investing in the town.
