Food Security: Bauchi Plans Agro-industrial Processing Zone

Bauchi State government is preparing farmers and other stakeholders for the take-off of the African Development Bank-backed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in the state.

The commissioner for agriculture, Professor Simon Madugu Yalams, said the state would continue to support the stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.

He gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ engagement on the social environmental impact and the modalities for establishing the Special Agricultural and Industrial Processing Zone in Bauchi at the Conference Hall of the State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) with representatives from the seven participating local government areas of the state on Saturday.

Initiated to produce and process both food and cash crops for local consumption and export, with its attendant value chains, the project which was introduced by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and supported by Arab Development Bank, and International Bank for Agricultural Development, is also conceived to enhance food security and provide employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed.

Represented by the special adviser to the governor on agriculture, Dr Ilyasu Aliyu Gital, the commissioner said Bauchi is privileged to be among the two states selected from the six states of the North East to work with the consultant to ensure that all the standards set for the project are met.
He said each of the participating local government areas sent representatives to the engagement who are to keep abreast of likely challenges of the project and devise ways of mitigating them for successful implementation.

The commissioner emphasised that each and every individual to be affected by the project would be consulted and his contribution sought for its realisation, saying it is not only a government project, but also people oriented.

“All those that are involved have to fully know the project, the roles they are expected to play, as well as about the environment, taking into cognisance the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for discussions and assimilation,” he said.

On his part, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Yushau Isa said that the present administration will continue to develop the three farm products including sesame, soyabean, and rice, cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize as requested by African Development Bank (AfDB) to expand the state’s economy.

He said Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has special interest in the project because of its economic importance which will make Bauchi one of the states that can export food crops to the outside world.

“The coming of a SAPZ will not only be of added value to our quest for an economic boost through agribusiness but also help to engage our teeming youths who are yearning to hit the rooftops with enormous talents in the various agricultural fields.

“Already, the state has taken the lead in the provision of an enabling environment to enhance the effectiveness of this initiative by developing agribusiness industrial hubs across the state,” he said.

The minister of environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal who was represented by the director environmental impact assessment, Bauchi office, Mr AB Maina said the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project will unlock the opportunities for food security, job security and increase the contribution of the sector to the GDP. He said the project is designed to diversify the country’s economy by changing agriculture to becoming a profitable economic venture.

The minister said the government is determined to give unprecedented attention to agriculture and food security, through schemes like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project.
He urged the stakeholders to ensure that all hands are on deck for the successful implementation of the programme in the state.