The Anambra State Government has unveiled plans to deepen industrialised agriculture as part of efforts to increase farmers’ earnings, promote exports and reduce post-harvest losses across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ben Odoemena, disclosed this on Wednesday during the inauguration of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, a tuber crop processing company located in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area.
The facility, established by businessman and industrialist Ikenna Okafor, is designed to process yams, cassava, potatoes and other tuber crops for export markets.
Speaking during the event, Odoemena said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is prioritising commercial and industrial-scale agriculture over subsistence farming.
According to him, the new direction would improve food production, create opportunities for value addition and enable farmers to generate foreign exchange through export activities.
“We will encourage farmers to farm on a commercial scale, and this would not only guarantee food sufficiency but also enable them to earn foreign exchange,” he said.
He noted that the establishment of processing facilities would help eliminate concerns about harvested produce going to waste due to lack of buyers.
“With the establishment of tuber crop processing plants, there would be no fear of unsold farm produce rotting away because they can now be processed and exported,” Odoemena added.
The commissioner described the processing plant as a major step toward modern agricultural development and noted that it aligns with the state’s broader vision for economic transformation.
He said his first official assignment after assuming office being the inauguration of an agro-processing facility reflected the strategic importance attached to agriculture by the state government.
“I am happy that my first assignment after swearing-in is the inauguration of an agro-processing plant that will ensure zero wastage in tuber crops. This is the model of agriculture practiced in developed economies,” he said.
Odoemena stressed that Anambra had moved beyond traditional farming systems focused solely on production and local consumption.
“We have passed the period of planting, harvesting and eating. We now want to cultivate, process, consume and export to enrich ourselves,” he stated.
He added that the state government would continue supporting agro-processing industries capable of driving value addition and strengthening the agricultural value chain.
According to him, processing companies remain critical to ensuring sustainability in agriculture because they provide ready markets for farm produce and encourage higher production levels among farmers.
