ABUJA – The Federal Government says it will to establish an Agro Industrial Town (AIT) in the Agric Business Investment Region of Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone, Kogi, worth 390 million dollars (N66.3billion).
Mr Zvi Herman, the AIT Programme Consultant and Executive Director, Agriculture Division, LR Group, an Israeli organisation, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the Technical Presentation of a Draft Report on the Development of the Agro Industrial Town, Herman said the project would be modelled after similar agricultural projects in Israel.
Herman, who presented a report on the project, said when approved, the project which cost 390 million dollars, would engage 1,400 farming families, and create over 23,000 jobs.
He explained that a unique town would be created where farming families would have residential homes attached to four hectares of land each to ensure steady agricultural activity.
“Also schools, water health facilities and processing units would be provided in this unique location to encourage the value chain scheme of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
“Kogi, a pilot state for the project will benefit through its Staple Crop Processing Zone, the location of the proposed Agri Industrial Town,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Ibukun Odusote said that the project would encourage mechanised-oriented farming for enhanced economic growth at the grassroots.
Odusote, represented by Mr Chidi Uwandu, the Director, Special Duties in the ministry, urged stakeholders’ input in the proposed project to guide the Federal Government on implementation when approved.
She said that the Federal Government would collaborate with states and international consultants to ensure success of the project when approved and replicate them in other staple crop zones.
“This is another giant stride in the history of our agricultural development to address the significant gaps prevalent in agricultural value chain in the country.
“The Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) has the cardinal objective of running agriculture as a business to address inefficiency in our agricultural production, post-harvest process, promote marketing linkages, private sector involvement and infrastructure development.
“In pursuance this, staple zones is a platform for the promotion of agro processing investment to increase production nationally to enhance food security and create jobs rural agro industrialisation.
“Therefore this AIT would fast track rural agro transformation and services for appropriate agro business linkages,” she said.
She promised that when approved, the programme would create jobs for youths and women.
Odusote said it would also provide land for agricultural production; supported by housing, water supply and agro support services. (NAN)
