AfDB, partners launch $520m special agro-industrial processing zones in Nigeria

Nigeria began its long journey to end hunger and achieve food security on Monday with the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a program initiated by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).

According to the president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, “Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones are new economic zones, located in rural areas, which will be fully supported by infrastructure (power, water, roads, digital infrastructure and Logistics).

This will put them close to farmers in production catchment areas, provide marketable products for farmers, support processing and value addition, reduce food losses, and enable the emergence of highly competitive food and agricultural value chains.

The launch ceremony in the capital, Abuja, kicks off the implementation of phase one of the SAPZ program in eight states across the country.

The African Development Bank provides funding of $210 million, while the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jointly provide $310 million.

The Nigerian government is contributing $18.05 million.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in remarks delivered by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, praised the initiative, saying “if the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program meets its objectives, and we have no doubt that it will, then we would in less than a decade have dealt a fatal blow to food insecurity, created millions of well-paying agribusiness jobs and opportunities, and radically improved agriculture’s export earnings.”

Adesina, Nigeria’s former agriculture minister and World Food Prize winner, said: “Hungry in Nigeria cannot be justified.

Nigeria has the land, with 34 million hectares of arable land with rich and diverse agroecology.

There is no reason for anyone to go hungry in Nigeria.” To help Africa prevent a food crisis triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian war, the African Development Bank launched a $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Fund to help 20 million farmers access resilient agricultural technologies to climate change and produce 38 million metric tons of food valued at $12 billion.

“The African Emergency Food Production Fund provided $134 million to Nigeria, one of the highest levels of support in African countries.

I would like to thank the Japan International Development Agency (JICA) for co-financing this with an additional $110 million.

That means we collectively made $244 million available for emergency food production in Nigeria,” said the head of the banking group.

Noting that the latest Global Hunger Index (2022) ranks Nigeria 103rd out of 121 countries facing a global hunger crisis, Adesina called for “increased action, responsiveness and dedication to avert a food crisis.”

“Nigeria must decisively address the insecurity challenges that prevent farmers from going to the farms. Food security needs national security,” said Adesina.

According to the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, “With the disruption of supplies stemming from the war, Africa now faces a shortage of at least 30 million metric tons of food imported from Russia and Ukraine, especially from wheat. Urgent action is needed to prevent a food crisis in Africa.”

He expressed confidence that Nigeria will efficiently implement the SAPZ program that will boost food production, reduce food price inflation and transform the agricultural sector while ensuring food security and creating jobs.

The Associate Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Ms. Katherine Meighan, said that her organization is determined to contribute to the overall goal of the SAPZ program by empowering 100,000 direct beneficiaries, including small farmers, small processors, traders and suppliers of services in Ogun and Kano. State, with a strong focus on youth and women.

“Our empowerment strategy aims to equip farmers and smallholders to take advantage of the markets created by SAPZ to sustainably improve their income through income-generating activities, household food security and nutrition, and resilience to climate change,” Meighan said.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones will develop value chains for selected strategic crops in Nigeria, including maize, cassava, rice, soybeans, cocoa, poultry and livestock products.

They will also create millions of quality jobs, especially for youth and women.

Speaking on behalf of the phase one participating states and the Federal Capital Territory, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade praised the program’s innovation, saying “The SAPZ program will help Nigeria develop an independent economy.

of the oil.

The show is a classic departure from other projects we know of.” The first phase of the program will include seven states: Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The SAPZ program has already gained a lot of momentum as 19 other state governments have expressed strong interest in participating in the program.

Ministers and other top federal officials, state governors, the private sector and members of the diplomatic corps attended the launch ceremony.

During the event, Vice President Osinbajo launched a set of commemorative stamps of the Special Agroindustrial Processing Zones.

The stamps were designed by the Nigerian postal service in conjunction with a local NGO, FLEESD.

In an appeal around the SAPZ programme, Adesina said: “Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) will help feed Nigeria, transform rural economies, expand fiscal space, fully unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential and create millions of jobs.

of work”.

“I am delighted that the SAPZs have finally taken place in Nigeria and throughout Africa,” said Adesina. (NAN)