AFEX Agricultural Commodity Warehouses and Multi grains Processing Plant will help farmers in the preparation of their produce, cleaning them up and other logistics support, including marketing them.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai who made this known while commissioning the facility which is located on Zaria-Kano highway as part of the activities of the 7th edition of Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (7.0) last Friday, noted that such an investment will enhance food security in the country.
It will be recalled that AFEX started operations in Nigeria in 2014, and it trades maize, cocoa, soyabean, paddy rice, sorghum and ginger. It also supports securitization and trade finance for the commodities, and farmers have access to spot markets via a trading platform which has about 250,000 farmers.
According to reports, it presently operates 12 accredited warehouses in Kaduna state as the state has become a vital player in the Nigerian agricultural sector.
Speaking at the commissioning, Mr Ayodeji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer of AFEX, said the company will produce over 100,000 metric tonnes of grains yearly, adding that the company is currently working with 300 farmers within the state, creating 350 direct jobs for the youth.
Balogun said that the company will invest more in agric value chain and value addition in coming years, to enhance agricultural production in the state.
