Dipo Olowookere
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership agreement between the Kaduna State Government and Vicampro Farms Limited will bring about N40 billion investment into the state, Business Post has learnt.
The deal between the state government and the private firm was completed on Monday in Kaduna and it is to boost potato farming in Nigeria.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Dr Manzo Daniel Maigari, the investment would comprise building plant for the processing of potatoes as well as outgrowing Irish and sweet potatoes through local farmers.
The factory will be located in Manchok and is expected to be completed in 18 months.
“This project will create jobs and also key into the federal government programme of developing potatoes to take it to the level it deserves as the fourth most important crop in Nigeria,” Dr Maigari said.
He specifically said jobs expected to be created are in the region 30,000 to 40,000.
The Commissioner added that this would in no small way boost the economy of the state, also pointing out that the project would provide 1.3 metric tonnes of potato seedlings.
On his part, the Managing Director of Vicampro, Mr Michael Agbogo, expressed optimism that the project would go far in boosting the country’s economy.
He also expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation with the state government under the leadership of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.
