…Says state awaits AfDB approval, Tinubu approves international airport; farmers seek tractors, fertilisers, processing centres
By Salawu Nneka Patience
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced significant progress towards the take-off of the proposed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), expressing optimism that the initiative will transform the state’s agricultural sector, attract investments and create employment opportunities.
Ododo made the disclosure during an engagement with farmers and members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food security and rural economic development.
The Governor said Kogi State had fulfilled most of the requirements for the project and was awaiting approval by the Board of the African Development Bank (AfDB), expressing confidence that the approval would be secured soon.
He described the processing zone as a strategic intervention that would move the state beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities to processing, value addition and agro-industrial development.
According to him, the initiative would reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ earnings, stimulate industrial activities and create new investment and employment opportunities.
Ododo urged farmers across the state to increase food production in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of achieving national food sufficiency, stressing the need to embrace the principle of producing what the country consumes and consuming what it produces.
He commended AFAN for its contributions to agricultural development and acknowledged farmers as indispensable partners in the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition agriculture as a major driver of economic growth.
The Governor also praised farmers in Kogi for embracing his administration’s agricultural agenda, noting that their commitment to increased production was critical to fulfilling campaign promises on food security, economic empowerment and rural development.
On agricultural security, Ododo maintained that improved farming opportunities and economic empowerment of rural communities were essential to sustaining peace and stability, noting that agricultural development and security were closely interconnected.
He expressed confidence in the state’s agricultural potential, describing Kogi as a major rice-producing state, and encouraged farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their produce.
The Governor also emphasised the importance of reliable agricultural data, commending AFAN for maintaining what he described as one of the most comprehensive databases among organised associations in the country.
He, however, urged the association to ensure that the data was effectively deployed to guide agricultural planning, government interventions and farmers’ support programmes.
On mechanisation, Ododo assured farmers that his administration was intensifying efforts to improve access to tractors and other modern farming equipment to expand cultivated farmland, reduce the burden of manual labour and increase productivity.
In another major disclosure, the Governor said President Tinubu had approved the construction of an international airport in Kogi State.
He explained that the proposed airport would complement the agro-industrial processing zone by facilitating the transportation of agricultural products and other goods to domestic and international markets.
According to him, an efficient transportation network would be critical to the success of the processing zone and the state’s ambition to attract investors into commercial agriculture and agro-industrial businesses.
Ododo also called for increased budgetary allocation to agriculture, directing the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, to prepare comprehensive proposals addressing the sector’s needs for consideration by the State Executive Council.
He said agriculture deserved greater financial attention because of its capacity to generate employment, improve household incomes, strengthen food security and stimulate economic activities, particularly in rural communities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, commended the Governor for prioritising agriculture and introducing interventions aimed at improving farming activities across the state.
Ojomah stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between government and agricultural stakeholders, noting that the success of government policies depended largely on the active participation of farmers.
He also pledged his commitment, alongside other stakeholders, to mobilising support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In his remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of AFAN, Alhaji Musa Raji, appreciated the Governor for providing farmers with an opportunity to communicate their challenges and expectations directly to the government.
While acknowledging the administration’s commitment to agricultural development, Raji appealed for the provision of more tractors and power tillers to enable farmers to cultivate larger portions of land and improve productivity.
He also requested improved mobility for agricultural personnel to facilitate access to remote farming communities, alongside increased provision of fertilisers, improved seedlings and other essential farm inputs.
The AFAN chairman further called for stronger agricultural extension services to provide farmers with regular technical guidance and modern farming knowledge.
He urged the state government to establish more agricultural processing centres to promote value addition, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.
Raji expressed optimism that the Governor would consider the association’s requests, assuring him of farmers’ continued cooperation in advancing the state’s agricultural development agenda.
Also speaking, the State Woman Leader, Mrs Esther Audu, appreciated Ododo for recognising the contributions of farmers, particularly women, and providing a platform for agricultural stakeholders to engage directly with the government.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the government and farmers to examine challenges confronting the sector and identify practical measures to improve productivity.
With the proposed SAPZ awaiting AfDB board approval, the planned international airport, renewed attention to agricultural mechanisation and calls for increased budgetary investment, the Ododo administration is seeking to position agriculture as a major pillar of Kogi State’s economic transformation.
