Igbariam (Anambra) – Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra on Saturday urged youths in the state to register with State’s Ministry of Agriculture for employment opportunities in the sector.
Obiano made the call while inaugurating the farming season for Delfarm Anambra Songhai farm at Igbariam in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
He said that more than 500 training opportunities will be available for the youth, adding that the Songhai farm project will create another 500 direct and indirect jobs for the youths of the state.
The governor further said that this project had the capacity of increasing the internally generated revenue of the state drastically.
According to him, the state has attracted investment worth 4.1 billion US Dollars so far with about 40 per cent of all the investment in agriculture sector.
“Agriculture is a lucrative and viable means of economic development and wealth creation.
“The state has done about eight exports of vegetables to London.
“Soon Anambra will become the biggest producer of rice in Nigeria,” he said, while calling on investors to invest in the agriculture sector of the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of Delfarm Projects Limited, Dr Emmanuel Egbogah, said that the project was developed in line with Obiano’s vision for self-sufficiency in food production in the state.
Egbogah disclosed that the farm project will engage full value chain in food production in animal husbandry, poultry, aquaculture and agricultural cash crops such as sorghum, soya beans, cassava and rice.
According to him, it will also include processing centres and technical production centres.
The chairman said that the project will be developed in about 2, 000 hectares of four specialised farms across the three senatorial zones.
He called on major food and beverage outlets such shop rite, SABMiller and other purveyors of fine quality foods and drinks to patronise the quality farm produce for better quality delivery to consumers.
The Founder and Director, Songhai Regional Centre, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, said that the state in no distant time through the partnership will be a state to reckon with in the agriculture sector. (NAN)