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Kano to benefit from $1bn staple crop processing zone fund

By on February 15, 2015

Kano State will be among some states in the federation to benefit from the $1 billion secured by the Federal Government from the World Bank, African Development Bank and the private sector for the development of Staple Crop Processing zones.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said in Kano on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit on the state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in his office, that the fund was for the necessary infrastructure at the project sites.

He said the Staple Crop Processing zones project was recently approved by the government, to create economic zones of prosperity, adding that land for its take-off had already been set aside in the Kadawa – Bunkure axis of Kano State.

Dr. Adesina maintained that Rice, Sorghum and Tomatoes would be the key crops to be harvested at the zone, adding that the government had already attracted DANSA Foods Ltd., which was investing about $40 million in a 1,200 metric tons facility for the processing of tomatoes, which is the largest tomato processing plant in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Minister, therefore, requested the government of Kano State to allocate an additional 250 hectares of land for the project, which he said, would make Kano the hub of tomato production in Nigeria, adding that its output would replace the current import of the farm produce from China and Italy.

On Avian Flu, Dr. Adesina said Kano and Lagos were recently identified as hot spots of the bird disease outbreak in the country, assuring that the Federal Government in conjunction with the state governments, were taking proactive steps to bring the situation under control while compensation was being paid to affected farmers.

He explained that compensation was being paid to any poultry farm that was depopulated, adding that so far, over N120 million had been paid to such farm owners.

The Minister, however, requested the government of Kano State to assist more in that direction by providing equipment and other logistics, enforcing quarantine and bio-security measures, disposing of carcasses and awareness creation among the citizenry.
He assured that the Federal Government would fully support the Kwankwaso administration towards improving mechanisation of agriculture, with the active support of the private sector.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso stated that his administration had reservation about allocating the 250 hectares requested by the Ministry of Agriculture for the Staple Crop Processing zone because another Federal Agency had hitherto requested for a vast piece of land in the state which was allocated but not utilised.

He lamented that the government was finding it difficult to reclaim the land and put it into good use, assuring that discussion would however, continue with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture to resolve the issue.

Kwankwaso assured that his administration was willing to work hand in hand with the Ministry for the development of agriculture in the state.

 

[ThisDay]