By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Abia state governor, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu says plans are underway to build agro-allied industries in the 17 local government areas(LGAs) of the state.
Ikpeazu said this on Wednesday when Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike(MOUAU) and members of MOUAU Presidential Visitation Panel paid him a visit in Umuahia.
The governor said that the industries would serve as enablers to the state government’s vision to mainstream agriculture for achievement of robust agricultural development.
He said that the state government was desirous to make Abia to become a value-addition hub for various agricultural products in the nation.
Ikpeazu said that the government had commenced the construction of the agro-allied industries in six LGAs, which were almost completed and would serve as the pilot phase of the project.
He said: “We are focusing on cassava processing, rice milling and cashew production and in a short while from now you will see agro-allied industries in various local government areas.
“These industries will be built to specifically meet the production and processing of the crops that are prevalent in each local government area.
“We want to see how we can create more robust economy for the rural areas and address the issue of women and youth inclusion in the development of the economy.”
He said that the construction of agro-allied industries for the promotion of its value-addition initiative would help the state to boost its agriculture sector irrespective of its small land mass, NAN reports.