Anambra moves to boost agro-industrialisation, export earnings for farmers

The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming agriculture from subsistence farming to export-oriented agribusiness aimed at generating foreign exchange earnings for farmers.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ben Odoemena, stated this during the inauguration of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, a tuber crop processing company located in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area.

The company, founded by businessman and industrialist Ikenna Okafor, is expected to process yam, cassava, potatoes and other tuber crops for export markets.

Speaking at the inauguration, Odoemena said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo was prioritising industrial-scale agriculture capable of creating wealth, reducing food losses and increasing export opportunities for farmers.

According to him, the state government intends to encourage farmers to embrace commercial farming to guarantee food security while also positioning agricultural products for international markets.

“We will encourage farmers to farm on a commercial scale because it will not only ensure food sufficiency but also enable them to earn foreign exchange. With the establishment of this processing plant, farmers no longer have to worry about unsold produce going to waste because it can now be processed and exported,” he said.

The commissioner described the processing facility as a major step towards modernising agriculture in the state, adding that the Soludo administration was determined to move beyond traditional farming practices.

“We have passed the stage of merely planting, harvesting and consuming. We now want to cultivate, process, export and enrich ourselves through agriculture,” he added.

Odoemena further assured that the government would continue supporting agro-processing industries that promote value addition and minimise post-harvest losses.

He noted that the technology deployed by the company would make it easier for farmers to process and export their produce while earning better returns.

Chairman of the company, Ikenna Okafor, said the firm had already commenced large-scale yam cultivation on a 200-plot farmland in Ufuma and had started generating foreign exchange through exports.

Okafor explained that the company was established to tackle the persistent challenge of farm produce wastage while creating export opportunities for local farmers.

“We have secured approvals from food processing agencies in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and also from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. We will process yam, cassava, potatoes and other tuber crops to ensure that no part of farmers’ produce is wasted,” he said.

He added that the initiative would also create employment opportunities and expand access to global markets for farmers in the state.

Director of the company, Esther Okafor, described the project as a significant innovation in agro-processing and export development.

The inauguration attracted farmers, government officials and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, who toured the processing facilities during the event.

The Soludo administration has consistently identified agriculture, industrialisation and export-led production as central pillars of its economic development agenda for Anambra State.