Kwara farm project receives global thumbs-up

Kwara's Shonga Farm Project received an international thumbs-up recently when  'A Farm for Africa', a film on the initiative won a Grand Prix at the International Festival of Corporate Film and TV on Ecology and Sustainable Development, held in Deauville, France recently.

A Farm for Africa, which was commissioned by former Governor Bukola Saraki, who also initiated the Shonga Farms Project during his tenure, beat off tough competition from seven other entries from European, American and Asian producers to win the Grand Prix Award in the Agriculture and Green Economics category of the award ceremony also referred to as Deauville Green Awards.

The award ceremony, attended by film makers from across the globe and senior French government officials, was the climax of the three-day festival during which 200 entries, including 'A Farm For Africa', were screened.

Receiving the award, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to Kwara State Governor - Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the Grand Prix Award was further validation of Senator Saraki's unparalleled vision for agro-reform which saw him inviting the 13 Zimbabwean Farmers to pioneer commercial farming in Kwara State and of his determination to bring the Shonga success story to a wider-audience.

Akorede said the State Governor's decision to sustain and scale up the vision of commercial farming was a demonstration of the policy's strength and a testimony to the benefits of continuity. He thanked the people of Shonga for contributing to the success of the commercial farm project and Matt Reid, the film's producer, for translating Dr. Saraki's laudable initiative into such a powerful film.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Jean-Charles Pentecouteau, President of the Awards, said the quality and the rich content of A Farm For Africa stood it out in the category, adding that he was not surprised that the 12-man jury gave the film a nod for one of five Grand Prix at the Awards.