There are plans to establish Agricultural Industrial Parks (AIPs) across the six geopolitical zones of the country in order to create jobs and ensure food sufficiency in the sector’s value chain.
These parks would be constructed by federal government in partnership with a local firm known as Global Fortunes Limited.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mustapha Shehuri, said the initiative was part of government’s commitment to the development of the agricultural value chain in Nigeria. He said the project, if implemented, would ensure food security and create more employment for Nigerians.
“Even with the huge infrastructural deficit in Nigeria, we can still embark on this project, because the government is focused on diversifying the Nigerian economy,” Mr Shehuri said when he received a delegation of the company led by Mr Kidron Israel, in Abuja.
The Minister said he will visit the Taraba State Agricultural Industrial Park with the relevant directors to see the model of the park that is the state.
He stressed the need for the federal government in collaboration with the state government and other relevant agencies to partake in the project in order to fast track progress.
In his remarks, the Director, Department of Agribusiness, Dr Aminu Babadi, said the project is a welcome development but mentioned that some of the challenges that could hinder the smooth take off include; energy and space utilization.
In his presentation, the Manager, Global Fortunes Ltd, Mr Kidron Israel, said that the company is using this opportunity to establish Agricultural Industrial Parks across the six geopolitical zone of the country.
He also said that the system is the fastest way of changing the old farming culture to a state-of-the-art modern farming and also the fastest way of growing the economy.
