Adamawa State government has earmarked N5 billion as seed funds to guarantee the upgraded 12 livestock and grain markets in the state.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapha Farauta, made the disclosure at the inauguration of the livestock and grain markets in Ngurore Yola-South local government area to boost the agricultural value chain in the state.
The facilities comprise of five cattle and seven grains markets as the pathway toward industrialisation, food sustainability, and export promotion across the 21 LGAs.
The governor also approved the establishment of a State Market Management Company to work with local governments and other market stakeholders to ensure proper maintenance and further improvements within the markets.
The company is to allow businesses to thrive and help improve the local economy, thereby bringing prosperity to the people.
“I appeal to everyone gathered here to ensure that these investments are properly managed and protected to avoid returning to the poor state in which we found them,” he said.
According to him, the initiative under Adamawa State Agribusiness Support Programme (ADAS-P) is a Public-Private Partnership aimed at mainstreaming agribusiness and commercialization borne out of deliberate commitment to modernizing agriculture through a private-sector-led approach to improve productivity, attract private finance, and enhance access to markets, thereby improving farmer incomes, creating jobs, and guaranteeing food security for the people.
“In recognition of the key role markets play in the agricultural ecosystem, the government supported the ADAS programme in upgrading infrastructure, building drainage, providing security, and generally improving the business environment in the 12 markets across the state,” the governor added.
Speaking, earlier, the Commissioner for Livestock and Development Alhaji Tijjani Atiku Maksha and his Agriculture counterpart Professor David Jatau challenged the beneficiaries to take proper care of the structures and facilities provided to them.
Chairman Livestock Sellers Association, Mr Gidado Walga reaffirmed their support to the state government.
He called on citizens to rally around the present state administration to enable them to reap more democracy dividends.
