FG Plans Staple Crop Processing Zone In Anambra

The Crop Processing Zone being set up by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Omor, Anambra, would soon take off, an official said recently.

The Regional Director (South-East) of the ministry, Dr Uche Nwafor, made this known during the enumerators’ training organised by the state government in Awka.

Nwafor said that the two appraisal missions had concluded their studies and that the ministry had commenced discussion with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the implementation of the project.

According to him, officials of the bank have visited the site to assess what is available and determine what role it will play and the possible assistance to be provided to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

The director noted that the state had comparative advantage in rice, cassava and livestock production.

According to him, the Federal Government would provide infrastructural support to states in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

“The federal ministry, with AfDB are establishing a staple crop processing zone in Omor, Anambra, which is close to Adani in Enugu, specifically for rice production.

“In Anambra, the emphasis is on rice production, cassava and oil palm, livestock and fisheries.

“Agriculture is now a business and no longer a developmental project where communities jostle for the siting of projects in their area.

“We have created value chains from production to marketing and the honourable minister is not relenting until food sustainability is achieved.”

Nwafor, pointed out that the ministry was already working with the National Assembly to address the issues in the Land Use Act, to enhance agricultural mechanisation.

“The land holding system where people own little parcels of land has been identified by the ministry as a problem to agriculture.

“We are working through the National Assembly to have the Land Use Act revisited to make room for the type of transformation going on in the sector.”

He enjoined youths to embrace the enormous opportunities in the sector in terms of reduced risk and economic empowerment.

Commenting on the preparation for the registration of farmers in the state, Mr. Leo Imoka, the Programme Manager of the Agricultural development Programme, said that the state government had increased the number of enumerators.