Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has sworn in 22 special advisers and vowed to diversify the state’s economy through the agricultural sector to alleviate the hardship being faced by the people.
Mutfwang made the promise yesterday when he received a delegation of the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) in his residence at the Government House, Little Rayfield Jos.
The delegation, led by Alhaji Shuaibu Bello, the Nigeria Consortium chairman and principal partner of AgTech Innovation Labs, is in the state for a feasibility study on identifying suitable communities where agricultural value chains can be enhanced to boost the state’s economy.
The governor acknowledged that Plateau grows crops in which the state has comparative advantage, such as potatoes, tomatoes, maize, rice, strawberry, coffee and ginger. He said his administration will work closely with the Nigeria Export Promotion Commission to create value chains and export the state’s agricultural products to the world market.
In the same vein, the governor also performed the swearing in of 22 special advisers and other appointees to add value to his administration in the state.
Mutfwang told the special advisers and other appointees to form a united front devoid of political considerations in tackling the current challenges facing the state.
He said the only way out of the economic downturn is to embrace and harness the agricultural potential of the state.
The governor said his administration is determined to improve agricultural value chains in Plateau, which are capable of creating factories and industries with the aid of the World Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank. He said the exercise will improve the state’s economy, create employment, and increase internally generated revenue.
