Ogun headlines FG’s move towards agricultural industrialisation, food security

…as seven states strategise on special agro-industrial processing zones

Driven by the mission to further industrialise and ensure food security in the Country, the Federal Government in partnership with seven States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have begun strategic moves to activate all Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) located across some States.

The activation of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) is designed by the Government to improve on agricultural produce by empowering farmers with needed inputs and processors with required machinery to be able to process and covert agricultural produce and. other raw materials into finshed goods.

Consequently, the Federal Government and seven other States, including Ogun, Kano, Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Oyo, Kwara as well as FCT Abuja, held a SAPZ-1 Programme Strategic Implementation Workshop in Abeokuta on Monday where issues as regards farmers’ and procesors’ empowerment as well as prevention of post-harvest losses came to the fore.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, Temitope Olayiwola, SAPZ Financial Controller, declared that the strategic workshop on Agro-Industrial Processing Zones was held in Ogun State going by the commitment of the State in ensuring an industrialised agriculture sector.

She said, “Ogun State came on board last out of the States selected for the programme. But, I must say that Ogun State has shown commitmmet, they have shown us that they have all it takes to succeed. We have 7 States and FCT for SAPZ-1.

“We are now on the era of industrialising agriculture and we know that this is a game- changer for Nigeria. One of the objectives of this Government is reducing food insecurity and SAPZ is an answer, from the start to the finish of production of agricultural produce, that is what SAPZ stands for.

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“We are building industrial hub, and working with smallholder farmers and processors. It is to provide agricultural inputs for farmers and also to reduce the cost of production of farmers.

“We also are training our farmers to reduce and ultimately to eradicate post-harvest losses. One of the biggest production of farming is post-harvest loss, so if we are able to reduce that we are going to have more agricultural produce for industrial use, exports and local consumption, that is why we are having this strategic workshop today in Ogun State.”

Earlier, Bolu Owotomo, Ogun Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, stated that the State is ready to lead in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones as lots of efforts had been put in developing strategies towards ensuring food security and agricultural industrialisation of the State.

He said, “As a State that is strategically located and with a strong agricultural heritage, we understand the profound impact that SAPZ will have on preventing rural urban migration, rural urban areas transformation, job creation opportunities and enhanced socio economic development across our dear State.

“The main objective of this workshop is to develop the 2025 SAPZ programme strategic implementation plan.

“We are also to develop strategies for fast tracking disbursement and implementation of components 2, while we come up with robust strategies for tracking performance.

On behalf of the Government of Ogun State, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the National Co-ordination Office, the three financiers—AfDB, IFAD, and IsDB—and all the participating States (Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Oyo, Ogun and FCT-Abuja) for their unwavering dedication to this noble cause.

“As we embark on this week-long journey of strategic planning, capacity building, andteam building, I encourage all participants to contribute actively and collaboratively. Together, we can unlock the full potential of the SAPZ programme and ensure a brighter future for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.Once again, you are all welcome to Ogun State, and I wish you all a succes.”