The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish 142 agro-processing hubs across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The project announced by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Minister of Agriculture, Saba Nanono will be funded by the “Green Imperative” programme a $1.2 billion joint Nigerian-Brazilian agriculture development scheme.
Mohammed said, “The $1.2 billion programme is to be implemented over 5-10 years with finding from the Development Bank of Brazil (BNDES) and Deutsche Bank with Insurance provided by Brazilian Guarantees, Funds Management Agency (FMA), Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Export Credit (ICIIEC) of the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) and coordinated by the Getulio Vargas Foundation.”
The agro-processing centres will manufacture all equipment necessary for processing, drying, packaging, storage and marketing of agro commodities, as the government aims to revolutionise the agricultural sector.
The Minister also said, “The Programme will create 5 million jobs and inject over $10 billion into the economy within 10 years and impact 35 million persons nutritionally and economically.”
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo launched the Green Imperative Programme in 2018 and it is supported by the More Food International Programme of the Brazilian Government to boost the productivity of smallholder farms with the provisions of tractors.
