The BARC Farms Project in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State is witnessing rapid development under the leadership of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, following the commencement of construction on six massive poultry houses, each designed to accommodate between 120,000 and 125,000 birds.
The new poultry facilities are part of the Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (P-YAEP), a government-backed initiative aimed at empowering 1,000 Plateau youths through mechanized farming, agribusiness training, and hands-on skill development.
Governor Mutfwang’s administration has made heavy investments in the project, providing fertilizer, herbicides, modern machinery, feeding, accommodation, trained experts, and security to ensure effective operations and sustainability. Each participant in the program has also been allocated one hectare of land to cultivate crops such as maize, rice, beans, and guinea corn.
Supervised by Mr. Jan James Tujay, the project manager, participants are being trained to operate advanced agricultural equipment like harvesters, double threshers, cultivators, ridgers, boom sprayers, and maize shellers, preparing them for commercial-scale farming.
Beyond the poultry project, construction is also underway on a three-storey administrative block, a cattle ranch, a piggery, and the revamping of over 10 large fish ponds that had been abandoned for years. The government is also experimenting with Napier grass farming to support livestock feed production.
To make the working environment youth-friendly, the Mutfwang administration has provided Starlink satellite internet and recreational facilities at the farm, creating an atmosphere that combines learning with innovation.
The progress recorded so far at BARC Farms has been widely praised, with stakeholders describing it as a landmark achievement in agriculture, youth empowerment, and food security under Governor Mutfwang’s administration.
Credit: Precious Kaneng, Dogo Nanzing
