Anambra State Targets Agro-Industrialisation, Forex Earnings for Farmers
Pecohub The Anambra State Government has said it is targeting the industrialisation of agriculture to enable farmers in the state earn foreign exchange from their produce through commercial-scale farming and export-driven processing.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ben Odoemena, disclosed this on Wednesday during the inauguration of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, a tuber crop processing company located in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
The company, founded by industrialist and businessman, Ikenna Okafor, is expected to process yams, cassava, potatoes and other tuber crops for export.
Speaking at the event, Odoemena said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo would support industrial-scale farming rather than subsistence agriculture.
He said, “We will encourage farmers to farm in commercial scale, and this would not only guarantee food sufficiency, but also earn farmers foreign exchange. With the establishment of tuber crop processing plant, there would be no fear of unsold farm produce rotting away, but would rather be processed and exported.
“I am happy that my first assignment after swearing-in is the inauguration of an agro processing plant that will ensure zero wastages in tuber crop. What we have here is the secret of agriculture in civilised climes.
“In Anambra, we want to support industries like this because the Soludo administration has plans to support industrialised farming. We have passed the period of planting, harvesting and eating. We want to start cultivating, eating and exporting to enrich ourselves.”
The commissioner said the government would continue to support agro-processing industries capable of driving value addition and reducing post-harvest losses in the state.
He added, “We want industries like this to drive agriculture and support what we intend to do in agriculture because if you harvest and no one buys them, it will waste. But this company has made the job easy for us to talk about the industrialisation of agriculture.
“The technology this company has will help to ensure that your products are processed and exported for you, so that you can earn foreign exchange for your product.”
Okafor, who is the Chairman of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited said the company ventured into large-scale yam cultivation on a 200-plot farmland in Ufuma and had already started earning foreign exchange from the produce.
Okafor said the company was established to tackle wastage of unsold farm produce and create export opportunities for farmers.
“We have gotten the approval of food processing agencies in America, Europe, United Kingdom and also NAFDAC in Nigeria. We will process your yams, potato, casava and other tuber crops and will ensure that no part of your crop is wasted.
