News in brief: Delta state governor Sheriff Oborevwori plans to improve the agricultural value chain as part of his administration’s agenda, focusing on sustainable growth, job creation, and infrastructure development. He aims to accelerate the construction of agro-industrial parks to enhance agricultural activities, generate employment, and improve food security in the state.
Sheriff Oborevwori, the new governor of Delta state, has said that he will focus on improving the state’s agricultural sector value chain. While giving his inaugural speech, he mentioned that the sector is part of his MORE agenda.
The agenda, which is an acronym for Meaningful development; Opportunities for all; Realistic reforms; and Enhanced peace and security; picks up from the former governor’s groundworks.
He says that his plans include fostering sustainable growth and creating jobs through the private sector. It also focuses on boosting human capita and building an enabling infrastructure. Then, there is a need to enhance governance and accountability systems to improve service delivery as well as strengthening public financial management.
All of these objectives are what Oborevwori sets out to do during his administration. “We shall develop the agricultural value chain, which is a major driver of sustainable economic growth,” he told citizens of Delta state.
While Nigeria’s agric sector suffers from several problems, developing its value chain can solve many of these issues. Although Oborevwori does not address the amount of work that will go into improving the state’s agricultural value chain, some of his other plans directly impact it.
For example, we mentioned earlier that the governor wants to strengthen the public financial management. If his plan works, providing subsidies and other financial aid to farmers and entrepreneurs can further improve the processes of getting inputs and processing produce.
In addition, he mentioned completing ongoing projects like road and bridges. Without a doubt, these infrastructures impact all sectors including agriculture. Then, he adds maintaining peace in the state, which will encourage new investments from the private sector.
The governor promises to accelerate construction of agro-industrial parks. He says that they have potential to generate employment opportunities, create wealth, reduce unemployment, and improve food security.
These parks are special areas or zones designed to facilitate the integration of agricultural activities with industrial and agribusiness operations. Their aim is to create a favorable environment for agricultural production, processing, and related industries to coexist and collaborate in a coordinated manner. All of these are value chain activities.
The state grows most of the staple foods consumed in the country, like cassava, yam, maize, cocoyam, plantain and banana. So, it makes sense that processing these instead of shipping them out raw will increase their value.
We will keep up with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori agricultural initiatives in Delta State and measure them against his inaugural promise. Subscribe to be the first to hear about it.
