By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has disclosed its readiness to set an excellent example of Agro-Industrial processing Zone that will spur other states in the country to emulate for improvement and diversification of agricultural production.
The State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made the disclosure on Monday while speaking at the 1st Supervision Mission of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to Kwara State for the commencement of Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project in the State.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, expressed the government’s commitment to revolutionizing the agricultural sector to tackle poverty through the expansion of food production capacity and efficiency.
He explained that his administration has signed Legal Opinion and Subsidiary Loan Agreement with the Islamic Development Bank for the commencement of the Special Agro-Industrial Hub on livestock, with special interest in “dairy production and processing” in the state, adding that the project will be fully funded by IsDB and the state government.
The Governor, who stated that the SAPZ Project has been declared disbursement-effective, enumerated the numerous advantages it will offer Kwarans.
“The hub will go a long way in reducing the imports of dairy products by improving milk production, reducing milk wastages and contamination, improve our dairy breeds and production methods and transform the overall milk value chain and the economies and livelihood of the livestock farmers and people of Kwara State”, he said.
The Governor noted that as the state begins a synergy with the Islamic Development Bank and other stakeholders in the quest to transform rural economies into viable and sustainable commercial cities, the Special Agro-Processing and Commercialization Hub is expected to turn around things for farmers, rural dwellers and others in the state.
In his speech, the Operation Team Leader from IsDB, Mr. Javed Khan, applauded the effort of the Kwara State Government in ensuring that the project has reached the commencement stage, describing the Agro-Industrial Processing Hub as a great achievement and a unique model in the history of the country.
He explained that the signing of the Subsidiary Loan Agreement with the IsDB was indicative of the commitment and readiness of the State Government for the implementation of the project in the State.
Khan, who explained that the implementation of the project will span four to five years, commended the Kwara State Government for recommending qualified hands to handle the project.
The State Coordinator, Kwara-SAPZ, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka, explained that the six broad components of the projects include infrastructure development and agro-industrial hub management; agricultural productivity and production; consultancy services; project coordination and management; financial audit; and contigency emergency response component.
Busari disclosed that the state government has set up necessary machineries for the commencement of the SAPZ project to deliver efficiently, saying that the state is taking a lead among the participating states in the country.
Speaking on the significance of the inspection mission, he said that the inspection team used the occasion to review the project components/activities, procurement and disbursement procedures.
The team took the members of the Project Implementation Unit in the state through a session of lectures on review of the project components/activities, procurement and disbursement procedures.
On the inspection team were the Operation Team Leader,. Br. Javed Khan(from IsDB); Project Management Specialist, Br. Sabiu Awal (from IsDB); Mr. Muktar Amansa (from the Fed. Min of Finance) among others
