The Kwara state governor, AbdulRazaq stated that by working together, an agro-industrial processing zone would be created, inspiring other states to enhance and diversify their agricultural output.
At the first IsDB oversight tour to Kwara for the start of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project, he made this disclosure on Tuesday in Ilorin.
AbdulRazaq underlined the commitment of the government to revolutionize agriculture and combat poverty by increasing food production, capacity, and efficiency, which was made possible by the state commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Mr. Abdullateef Alakawa.
In order to launch the unique livestock agro-industrial cluster with a focus on “dairy production and processing” in the state, the governor announced that his administration had signed a Legal Opinion and Subsidiary Loan Agreement with the International Sustainable Development Bank (IsDB).
The state government and the development bank, according to him, would provide total funding for the project.
AbdulRazaq listed the several benefits the SAPZ project would provide the state and added that it had been pronounced disbursement effective.
“The hub will go a long way in reducing the imports of dairy products by improving milk production, milk wastages and contamination.
“It will also improve dairy breeds, production methods, transform the overall milk value chain, the economies and livelihood of livestock farmers as well as people of Kwara state,” he said.
The governor stated that the Special Agro-Processing and Commercialization Center was anticipated to improve conditions for farmers and the general populace as the state began working in tandem with IsDB and other stakeholders to transform rural economies into viable and sustainable commercial cities.
The IsDB Operation Team Leader, Mr. Javed Khan, praised the government’s efforts in making sure the project got to the start stage.
Khan praised the agro-industrial processing hub as a noteworthy accomplishment and a singular model in national history.
According to him, the state government’s commitment and willingness to carry out the project were demonstrated by the signing of the subsidiary loan agreement with IsDB.
Khan praised the state government for putting out skilled candidates to lead the project, noting that it will take between four and five years to complete.
Furthermore, according to Dr. Busari Isiaka, the State Coordinator for Kwara-SAPZ, the projects’ six main components are infrastructure development, management of agro-industrial hubs, agricultural productivity and production, consulting services, project coordination and management, financial audit, and contingency emergency response.
According to Isiaka, the government has put in place the necessary machinery to launch the SAPZ project and carry it out effectively. He also noted that Kwara is leading the way among the participating states in the nation.
He said that the inspection team took advantage of the opportunity to assess the project’s activities, components, and procurement and payout processes.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the team led a session on reviewing the project’s components and activities, as well as its procurement and disbursement procedures, for the project implementation unit’s members.
