The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a special agro-industrial processing zones (SAPZ) programme in Ogun, Oyo, Imo and Cross River.
Other states that will benefit from the initiative, according to the Spokesman of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, are Kano, Kaduna, Kwara — and the FCT.
He said the project was designed to concentrate agro-processing activities in demarcated areas to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities.
Akande added that the project would be conducted in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders in the agric sector, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Bank of Industry (BOI).
He stated that Osinbajo was briefed on the progress of the project in a meeting attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Nanono, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo.
Under the programme, he explained that the Federal Government would demarcate areas across the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) to establish about 140 agro-processing centres.
He said the centres would be provided with basic infrastructure such as water, electricity and roads as well as facilities for skills training, while small-holder farmers in the catchment areas will be linked to markets across the value chain.
Commenting on the progress of the project, AfDB’s acting Vice-President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Toda Atsuko, said the bank in collaboration with other stakeholders were ready to start the first phase of the SAPZ programme, having completed a joint appraisal mission across the 36 states.
READ ALSO: CBN Planning To Ban Sugar, Wheat Importers From Accessing Forex
Atsuko commended the administration of Presidential Muhammadu Buhari for its efforts, adding that the plan would create jobs, and leverage technology with significant youth participation.
“I am very pleased to see that work has advanced and quite a bit is already being done. There is a need to synergize really concretely with Green Imperative (which is the partnership with the Brazilians), I think there are areas where these two programmes can complement each other,” he said.
“I am absolutely certain that we have enough room given the sheer size of the agric enterprise in Nigeria, we have enough room to accommodate these programmes, especially when they are synergized in a way that it will benefit the entire sector.”
In his remarks, Osinbajo commended the efforts of all stakeholders, noting that “this is a very good progress that we have made and we must ensure this actually works”.
Associate vice-president of IFAD, Donal Brown, said the organisation will co-finance the project with the AfDB with the view to creating an important opportunity for smallholder farmers in Nigeria to improve their farm yields, enhance their income and livelihoods.
