Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has through the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project, completed the construction of 15 agro processing and aggregation centres in different parts of the state.
The acting State Project Coordinator of APPEALS, Ihuoma Eze, who made this known yesterday during an inspection of the projects said that their completion was basically due to the unassailable interest shown by Mbah’s administration towards agriculture and the livelihood improvement of residents of the state.
Ezeh said that Mbah has completed the construction of 15 aggregation and processing centres and 9 energy intervention sites within 100 days in office through the project which is a World Bank assisted intervention in the agricultural sector in Enugu State.
“In the first 100 days in office of Governor Peter Mbah, the APPEALS Project has also installed energy at 9 locations, which has connected farm clusters and common user facilities to the national grid with 500kva/0.415 power facility. These have provided the much-needed infrastructural drive to power these critical areas.
The Centres have also been equipped with machineries and tools for processing and aggregating cashew, rice and poultry.
Cashew Aggregation and Processing Centre constructed by Enugu APPEALS Project at Aguobu-Owa, Ezeagu LGA, Enugu State
“This will enhance their productivity, improve value addition and open up vistas of market opportunities both locally and internationally for Enugu farmers, as well as add significantly to the economic growth of the state. These objectives perfectly align with the agricultural policies of His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State.
On his part, the Secretary to State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said that the APPEALS Project falls within the government’s target of eradicating poverty by creating wealth from rural farmers in the state.
“His Excellency is very focused on supporting the Agricultural sector and most of you know that we have decided to set up an office for agro allied processing in all zones and this is important because we are looking at all value chains of agriculture.
“This ties up to the whole plans His Excellency set out to increase the GDP of the state from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. The key thing is that when our people become productive, then you reduce issues of criminality and other social vices that could have happened.
This is a good example of a programme in partnership with the World Bank that can actually lead to value at the lowest economic level in the state and change the perceptions of agriculture. So, I commend all of you for the work you have done.
“His Excellency extends his gratitude and we have gone into partnership with the World Bank on this APPEALS project. We know it is value added. We look forward to all the achievements for the next 200 days.
Energy intervention by Enugu APPEALS Project
The Communication Office, APPEALS, Enugu, Ambrose Igboke explained that the 15 aggregation and processing centres are spread across 11 locations in the 3 senatorial zones and according to value chain belts of the state.
He listed the centres to include: Rice Processing Centre, Nara, Cashew Processing Centre, Udi, Rice Aggregation & Processing Centre, Adani, Poultry Processing Centre, Amechi, Cashew Aggregation & Processing Centre, Orba, Rice Aggregation & Processing Centre, Oduma.
Others are, Poultry Processing Centre, Ikpa-Nsukka, Cashew Aggregation & Processing Centre, Aguobu-Owa, Cashew Processing Centre, Akwari, Eha-Alumona, Rice Aggregation Centre, Eha-Amufu, and Poultry Processing Centre 9th Mile.
He further said that the 9 energy interventions are located at Nara, Amechi Adani; Orba; Ikpa; Ogbeke, 9th Mile-Ngwo, Amofia Agu and Okpogo Mbuta.
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