The Group Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, has said the establishment of the Benue juice factory would reduce post-harvest losses of citrus in the state.
He said that it would also create a stable market for farmers. Post-harvest loss is expected to be cut down by 80 per cent.
Asemakaha said this while welcoming partner members of Sono Group to Benue state to kick start the Benue Juice factory slated to be launched on Oct. 1.
He said the partnership would enhance the overall efficiency of the state agricultural operations and hold cash within the system.
”With the investors coming in, there would be job opportunities for youths in the state, increase farmers’ income and livelihood, and also contribute to the growth of the state’s GDP.
“We bring people with pedigree as partners in the state and a company as Sono group, with a balance sheet profit of over 60.6 million Euros, and a Tier one company in the world is what Benue needs to hit the mark.
”This partnership demonstrates the potential for collaboration and innovation in the state’s agricultural sector, and we urge farmers and the Orange Farmers Association to work together and ensure the success of this initiative,” he said.
Asemakaha said that by the end of October, no orange would leave the state, as the factory takes off 100 per cent. Sono group is expected to stay in the state for the next 15 years.
The Chairman of the Sono Group, Mr. Luiz Arena said the group was happy to be in partnership with BIPC and would ensure that they produce quality juice products for the state.
Arena said a company can not produce good products if there are no quality raw materials, adding that with Benue, the right materials are available, and the machines for production have been set up.
He said the Sono group had its first company in Ghana and was working with big juice companies and bringing out the best in quality and products.
Also speaking, Mr Tortse Yina, Director-General, Benue Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, said young people, especially in the North Central, have been left behind in Machine production.
He added that with the juice factory, more people would want to engage in farm oranges.
Yina said that the coming of investors to the state would expand the capacity of orange production and at least stop the importation of concentrates to Nigeria.
NAN/Shakirat Sadiq