Imo State has been identified as a nodal state for the FGN/AFDB/IFAD funded Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Project (SAPZ) for the South-East Region.
Speaking at the recently concluded Appraisal Mission of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Government Team to Imo State, the State Governor, Dist. Sen Hope Uzodimma pointed out that this recognition aligns with the strategy of his government towards stimulating intensive production and processing of agricultural commodities across key value chains. “We are systematically steering our agricultural competencies towards closing demand-supply gaps for agro-produce, not just for Imo state, but for the entire eastern region and ultimately, Nigeria”.
"So if you look at it, facilitating industrialization in the state through agricultural activities is not only strategic for the Presidency but also sits in the matrix of the economic development roadmap and investment promotion plan for Imo State", the Governor posited further.
On the SAPZ Program, Uzodimma noted that the commitment of the state to the project is anchored on the fact that it will create an enabling business environment for private sector investments to access local and regional markets. “The fallout from this will result in employment opportunities for the people of Imo State, particularly women and youths and economic growth for the region and the country”.
The appraisal team led by Richard-Mark Mbaram Esq. Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, applauded the state government for the strategic Agro-industrialization supportive investments across the state, beginning with the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport “the only Cargo Airport in the South-East and South-South region, and best in-class in the country, remarkably dwarfing the Lagos airport facility”.
As noted by the State’s Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mr. Simeon Egbegbulem, “the cargo airport is a key trade infrastructure primed to service the movement of agro-commodities between Imo and other States”. It is fully equipped with a terminal building, eight 50/20m warehouses, 26 offices and a 500KVA power sub-station - in addition to two 500 KVA stand-by generators".
The SAPZ, a major flagship agro-industrialization Program of the Buhari administration, will assist the Imo State government in the prioritized value chains of Oil Palm, Cassava, Poultry, Maize and Soybeans, which will be off-taken by Agro-Industrial giants like Victoria Integrated Farms and others that already exist.
Victoria Farms Ltd; an integrated private-sector led endeavor is located in Ngor-Okpala and strategically placed along the borders of Imo and Abia State, making it a turn-key facility which, at full operation, will help plug the protein deficiencies in the South-East and South-South regions.
According to Mr CNC Nwachukwu, Victoria Farms sits on 80 hectares of land and will produce 600,000 eggs per day, working with partners from Germany, Netherlands and Italy, such as Big Dutchman and Buschoff. He also indicated that Maize and Soybeans are the major raw material requirements for the farm’s feed mill. "In six months, we will cater for a demand of up to 5,500 hectares of Maize cropping, that’s what our silos will need”. He went on to add that with the necessary infrastructural support from the AfDB and the Federal Government, the company’s next line of business would be meat processing.
JP Agro Limited, another private sector player in the state participating in the SAPZ recently secured 2500 hectares of land solely for the cultivation of Maize and Soybeans and is currently cultivating rice on a 500 hectare farm in Umudim. According to the CEO, Dr. Pauline Igwe, key support around land preparation will go a long way to help kickstart the new project intent.
The main hub of the Imo SAPZ Project is however planned for Okigwe and will cater for an Integrated Livestock Processing Complex. For this, the experts from the Bank, working with the State’s Consultant, have undertaken the comprehensive design and structuring of the facility, prior to commencement of construction.
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O Nwosu
Ikeduru APC Media Hub
08032950897
Ikeduruapcmediahub@gmail.com
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