Enugu Governor partners World Bank to reposition commercial agriculture
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has reiterated the commitment
of his administration to maintain the strategic partnership between it
and World Bank to reposition commercial agriculture in the state.
The governor who spoke when he hosted the leader and members of world
bank team and the National Coordinating Office of Commercial
Agriculture Development project at the Government House, Enugu said
that despite the economic meltdown, his administration would look
inward, cut cost and meet with its counterpart fund needs to maintain
the partnership with the bank to enhance agricultural development in
the state.
“We will look inwards and do the needful, we will consult to ensure
that we do not miss this all important counterpart funding that will
take us to the next level in agricultural sector”, he said.
The governor enjoined the team to establish cashew plants in the state
and cashew irrigation centre at Obollo Afor in the state as Enugu is
one of the best cashew variety producer in the world.
He added that there is a need to train youths and women in
agricultural activities to create employment opportunities and wealth
creation among them.
According to the governor, Enugu State has been identified as one of
the states with the best security in Nigeria which will automatically
guarantee total safety to enable investors to do business in the
state.
Earlier in an address, the leader of the team Engr. Tijani Kayode
informed the governor that the team was in the state to determine the
status of the state on the implementation of commercial agriculture
joint project of the federal government and the World Bank in the
state. He added that commercial agriculture development project has
the objective of developing commercial agriculture productivity and
access to market
He added that the project has three variety products specifically for
Enugu state namely, fruit variety, maize and poultry.
According to him, the project has recorded several achievements in the
state over the last 6 years.
He added that the project has supported 7,500 small and medium scale
farmers through capacity building and access to market across the
country. According to him, the project has generated above ten
thousand jobs for youths in the state. Other achievements of the
project in the state included support of over 71 poultry enterprises,
assistance to San-Carlos pineapple farms in the state by building
asset road of over 4.7km among others.
