The African Development Bank (AfDB) has disclosed its plan to invest about $250 million to boost the Agricultural Sector in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This was announced by the AfDB Senior Director, Mr Ebrima Faal, during a visit of the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu.
Mr Faal, while embracing the provision of about 20,000 hectares of land, set aside for the growth of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, towards the poverty eradication initiative in the nation’s capital, affirmed that the AfDB will work with other financial bodies as well in order to accomplish its objectives.
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In her response, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Aliyu, reassured the representatives from the AfDB, that the administration will grasp the project and any other one, as long as the residents of the FCT will benefit from it.
According to the Minister, the administration has been working diligently on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, resulting in the creation of a Task Team and Expression of Interest (EoI) made ready for the lodgement.
She further stated that the integrated farming programme would be prioritized, as it is seen to be the most beneficial one to the people of the FCT, particularly those living in the urban area of the territory.
It should be recalled that the Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), trained about 5,000 residents of the FCT on the new farming skills to develop effective Agriculture and Food Production avenues.
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According to the ARDS Secretary, Mr Nzekwe Ifeanyichukwu, the participants were drawn from six (6) Area Councils of the territory.
Ifeanyichukwu said the training was a transparent policy of the Secretariat which is targeted at bringing a real investment and to develop the Agricultural Sector in the FCT for newer dawn.
