By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Taraba State Government, in partnership with the African Development Bank, on Tuesday said the planned Agro-Processing Zone, in the three senatorial districts of the state would create over 2000 jobs for unemployed youths.
Professor Nicholas Namessan, Taraba state commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this during the team’s advocacy visit to the Paramount ruler of the Kwararafa kingdom, Aku Uka of Wukari (HRM), Ishaku Ali Adda in Wukari, and the Chief of Mambilla, Alhaji Shehu Baju in Gembu, Sardauna Local Government.
According to the commissioner, the idea was also to boost food security and avert impending hunger in the state, adding that the decision was also to improve the state economy to attract development.
“Taraba state government decision to partner with the African Development Bank (AFDB), to establish Agro-processing zones across the three senatorial district of the state, is targeted toward creating over 2,000 jobs opportunities for unemployed youths and women in the state.
“We hope that the idea will also boost the state economy, since it was designed to increase households income, foster job creation in rural agricultural communities among youths and women, and serve as a foundation against food insecurity for the country,” Namessan disclosed.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Shuaibu Bello, team leader and Agricultural consortium group, expressed that the partnership would foster collaboration with agro-based company like, sugar processing company, milk processing company, rice, yam, cocoa and maize, to signify a shared commitment toward advancing the sectors.
In their separate responses, the traditional rulers described the state government’s decision for the partnership as wise, a step to end poverty in the state.
They commended Governor Agbu Kefas, and the AFDB for coming up with the idea, they described as transformational drive, “capable of boosting not just food production but to also improve the state Internally Generated Revenue and attract jobs for youths and women in the state,” the monarchs stated.
