Business$120m potato farm, processing plant underway in northwest Nigeria

$120m potato farm, processing plant underway in northwest Nigeria

-

A $120 million (U.S.) potato farm and processing plant is underway in Kaduna state in northwest Nigeria. The Vicampro Potato Farm and processing facility in Manchok, Kaura is expected to cover 10,000 hectares of land and generate 30,000 job opportunities.

At the ground breaking ceremony, state authorities said more than 60 per cent of its byproduct would be for export. The Managing Director of Vicampro company, Michael Agbogbo, said the company would produce French fries, Irish flakes and biscuits for local and international consumption.

Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State said the processing facility would earn foreign exchange and reduce over-dependence on oil. El-Rufa’i said the State Government was determined to promote agricultural practices to fast track development, diversify the economy and boost internally generated revenue.

Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, lamented the drop in oil prices, which he said had drastically affected the Country’s economy. “There is therefore need for diversification as the only alternative.” He added there was the need for synergy among all stakeholders to actualize the initiative.

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, described the development as a giant stride towards moving the economy forward.

The Chief of Moro’a, Malam Tagwai Sambo, commended the State Government for establishing the facility in Manchok and pledged the cooperation of the community.

Source:  The Eagle

Trending This Week

Potato harvest 2017 copy

What Ignoring Your Stored Spuds Until the End of Harvest Could Cost You

Do you have bin management plan to support your potatoes from load-in through suberization? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked various producers...
Potato harvester

Despite Wide Ranging Weather Canadian Potato Yields Decent

0
As the Canadian potato harvest rolls on, early reports point towards there not being spud shortages this year. Following a growing season which saw hot,...
Potato harvest 2017 copy

Ontario Storage Potato Harvest Well Underway

0
The harvest of the storage potato crop is in full swing near Alliston, Ont., a Sept. 21 email update from Eugenia Banks said. "The area was...
Grower Standard vs Strike

Potatoes Following in Strawberries’ Footsteps, But Can Potatoes be as Nimble?

0
The parallels between where we are in the potato industry today compared to where California’s strawberry industry was in the 1950s are quite amazing....
T-L Irrigation Co. Edge Controller

New Fully Remote Irrigation Controller Available

0
The fully remote Edge Controller from T-L Irrigation Co. allows irrigators the power to monitor and control pivot operations any time, any place, a...