By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The African Development Bank(AFDB) is to commit a total sum of $60million for the development of three Agricultural Transformation Centres in Anambra State.
An average of $20million will be invested to establish each of the centres across the three senatorial districts.
The State Commissioner For Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from Omor Community, Ayamelum Local Government Area, in his office.
He gave the assurance of the bank’s readiness in partnership with the state government to develop the project, adding that it would boost food production, generate wealth and facilitate development of rural areas.
“In partnership with African Development Bank, the Solution Government wants to create Agricultural Transformation Centres, three of them in the state, where our Farmers will be trained on how to upscale their productivity of rice, yam, cassava, livestock.
“They will be trained on the latest techniques and technologies of how to upgrade productivity so that in our small land, we can produce more than what we need.
“Then, supply the Special Agro Processing Zone and then have our products exported abroad. The Governor wants to create a system that will process everything we produce into more durable forms so that those things we produce can be exported and guarantee market and return to the farmer”
While affirming commitment to the success of the project, he said government had chosen Omor Community to host the Centre and hub for rice production for Anambra North by providing 20 hectares of land.
“We looked at the rice production hub and Omor is at the centre of it.That is the reason the government decided to give the opportunity to Omor to provide this 20 hectares of land where AFDB will come and establish the Agricultural Transformation Centre”
Responding, the President General, Omor Town Union, Cyril Anyanwumelu, commended the state government for considering it worthy to site the project in their community, pledging to support the initiative as inhabitants of the community are predominantly farmers.
Representative of the Traditional Ruler of the Community, John Mora, said they would engage other community stakeholders, especially those from Isiokwe quarter on the proposed project to pave way for comprehensive operational framework.
Other members of the delegation were, Christopher Obiasi, Patron, Isiokwe Development Union, Joseph Morah, Chairman, Isiokwe Development Union and Secretary Ozo Omor Council as well as the facilitator of the visit, Joseph Okonkwo.
