The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has identified agro-industrialisation as a fast-track means of boosting agricultural productivity, food security and job creation.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, said this at the FCTA policy framework for agriculture at the 8th Feed Nigeria Summit, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Aliyu, who was represented by Mr Prospect Ibe, the Acting Secretary, FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, said the sector would create thousands of jobs for the teeming and increasingly restive youth population in the territory.
Aliyu said the FCTA was commitment in the sector as evidenced in the level of preparedness for the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in livestock production, processing and marketing.
She said that the FCT-SAPZ would provide the avenue for harnessing the territory’s vast agricultural land resources to trigger massive grassroots development and prevent farmer-pastoralist resource-sharing conflicts.
The minister said that it would make the FCT a new livestock production hub in the West African sub-region.
She said that SAPZ would improve and modernise livestock productivity for national food nutrition security by making available quality and price competitive beef and dairy products for local and export markets.
“In the FCT-SAPZ, we plan to integrate crucial aspects of livestock production, processing and marketing as practiced in advanced countries.
“To actualise this, we are working with local and multinational companies and investors in the sector including; FrieslandcampinaWamco Plc, Nestle Plc., L and Z integrated farms, HSP Global.
“And a number of other consortia led by American and Brazilian farmers to establish ranches and processing facilities.
“Other investors are billed to bring in global logistics expertise to create an all-inclusive hub of industrial prowess.”
Aliyu commended members of the Feed Nigeria Summit for providing a unique platform for stakeholders in the sector to track and support the efforts of governments at all levels.
She, however, lamented that the Nigeria’s agricultural sector had been adversely affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, the Chairman, Central Organising Committee, Feed Nigeria Summit, said the Federal Capital Territory’s policy framework for agriculture had been recognised as one of the most consistent policies in agricultural transformation in the country.
He said that the FCT had consistently demonstrated commitment to the economic development of its people which was in line with the agro-industrialisation mandate of the current government through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.