Nigeria partners AfDB,IFAD,BOI on special agro processing zones

TheNigeriangovernment in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Bank of Industry (BOI), is set to establish a SpecialAgro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme targeted at concentrating agroprocessing activities in demarcated areas across the country to enhance productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities.

According to an official statement gathered by Business A.M, the Nigerian government will demarcate areas across the 36 States and the FCT where the agro-processing centres will be established. The 140 projected agro-processing centres will also 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.

To set off the plan in the opening phase, seven States representing most of the geopolitical zones in the country have been selected in addition to the Federal Capital Territory. The states include: Cross River,Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, and Oyo while the other states in the country would be added later as the scheme progresses.

During a recent meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja which was attended by Yemi Osibanjo, Nigeria’s vice president;Mohammed Nanono,minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Niyi Adebayo, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,as well as senior officials from the AfDB and IFAD,Toda Atsuko, AfDB’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, said the bank in collaboration with other stakeholders was ready to start the first phase of the SpecialAgro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, having completed a joint appraisal mission across the 36 States with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). She added that the plan will create jobs, and leverage on technology with significant youth participation.

Osinbanjo commended the progress made so far while emphasizing the need to also ensure effective synergy with the 36 States, adding that synergy will be crucial with the States because there is no way of getting the programme effectively done without a close collaboration with the states where the projects are sited.