White Zimbabwean farmers, expelled by Robert Mugabe in early 2000, are rapidly changing one of the less popular towns in Nigeria, Shonga, into a food hub in both Nigeria and Africa.

During the heightened land ownership and race row in Zimbabwe that had since crippled the southern African country’s economy, the government of Kwara State in Nigeria banked on the opportunity to lure the displaced farmers to Shonga in what is now deemed a ‘success’ by observers.

It was fun

"We arrived to virgin bush. We were basically just given GPS points, told to mark them out, clear the bush and find water, build the house, build the sheds, and import cattle. It was right from the grassroots and it was fun. We all lived in tents for a while," said Irvin Reid, one of the Zimbabwean farmers.

Five years down the line, the lands are now cultivable and both locals and farmers are now reaping the fruits of their labour.

Reid who was one of the 13 farmers invited to Nigeria after the land reform crisis in Zimbabwe now boasts of 300 Jersey cows producing milk in his dairy farm. He also has a total of 800 cows imported from South Africa for cattle farms. Huge tonnes of cassava, soya beans and maize are now harvested for local use and for export trade.

Gains
The government of Kwara state says large-scale farming has increased food supply, brought new skills to local farmers and encouraged the awakening of new agricultural industries. An additional 15 commercial farms had been developed with the already existing 13 at Shonga and about 3,000 people had found jobs on the farms.

The government is also said to be investing a multi-million dollar terminal, which it claims will be the continent’s largest. "We are focusing on Shonga, they are producing large, so we are positioning ourselves to be able to move these large quantities of farm produce to anywhere in the world," said Razak Atunwa, state commissioner for works and transport.

Nigeria’s food import is estimated at 3 billion naira annually, but the Kwara state government initiative will boost its food production and reduce imports. Shonga is attracting investors from United States, South Korea and Kuwait, Syria and South Africa.

Source: Afrik.com

Photo: Mike Blyth (Flickr CC)