Cocoa/Plantain Farmers to site mega processing plants in South-west Nigeria
The Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) has disclosed plans to site three mega processing factories in three States in the south-western part of Nigeria to support farming businesses and boost production.
The President of CPFAN, Ayodele Ojo, who made this known in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the mega processing factories would cost One point Five Billion Naira (N1,500,000,000), with each projected to cost Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000) and produce plantain and cocoa powder for domestic use.
“The factories will be located in Ondo, Osun and Ogun States.
“We hope to establish these mega-processing factories in all the six geo-political zones. The reason for this is that there are regions that are still lacking in these commodities.
“The scope of the project also includes the extension of these commodities to those regions evenly.
“Full details of the project are in the proposal which would be provided based on request,” he explained.
However, Ojo noted that a mini-version of the project has already been sited and commissioned by members of the association in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, which is already up and running.
According to him, the association will soon establish mini versions of the projects to complement the mega-project in other States as well.
“On the long run, CPFAN is willing to be a part of the solution to the many challenges facing agriculture in Nigeria by creating an enabling environment for all actors along the cocoa and plantain value chains to work together to bring a remarkable and significant improvement to the various nodes of the value chains,” Ojo said.
He also called for the inclusion of plantain commodity in the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme as well as the provision of agricultural inputs such as agro- chemicals, improved varieties of cocoa and plantain for planting and any other necessary inputs for farmers.
“We are also looking into how we can merge the two commodities into one single dietary product that is generally suitable for consumption for all ages, acceptable, and valuable for all.
“We have already fostered partnerships with the Department of Food and Science Technology in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Federal University of Technology, Akure, to help us facilitate the research.
“We believe this will also increase the value for these two commodities.
“…The challenges of agriculture in Nigeria require the coming together of all stakeholders to synergize efforts in achieving the much desired self-sufficiency in agriculture,” Ojo noted.
Source: Agro Nigeria
