The Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Kabir Muhammed Adamu has flagged off an egg production scheme in Abia State.
Adamu, represented by the Executive Director, Partnership, Strategy and Corporate Services, Bank of Industry (BoI), Gabriel Okenwa, said one million jobs would be created in the scheme and that over 50 million eggs would be produced daily.
Adamu said there is need for massive food production if the country must contain hunger, adding that the scheme will, among other things, boost the protein component of the school feeding programme, create sustainable poultry industry and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
He said the scheme will empower farmers and make them employers of labour which can lead to 1.6 million profit cash at hand and massive wealth creation.
He said that participants of the scheme are entitled to a loan of N4.3 million to be repaid in two and half years with a single-digit interest rate.
On why Abia was chosen as one of the pilot states, Adamu stated that it was because of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s support for farmers to ensure food security and job creation, describing it as one of the greatest legacies he will bequeath to the next generation.
Adamu further assured of the total support of the federal government to the project in the state, urging the governor to keep up his good work. This is even as he reemphasised that Bank of Agriculture will partner with the state to achieve this laudable project.
In his response, Ikpeazu said Abia has decided to refocus and bring agriculture to the front burner as a way of coming out of recession.
Ikpeazu explained that his government decided to make agriculture one of the first pillars of his administration because of his belief that it has the capacity to create more jobs and other incentives for the people to better their lives.
He maintained that poultry farming in Abia must be taken seriously with clusters created to help farmers without adequate capacity with the requisite training.
He said the state would key into “this federal government’s initiative anchored by the Bank of Agriculture. I call on them to do their best in catapulting agriculture to the place it must be in the scheme of things”.
Deputy Governor of the state Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, state commissioner for Agriculture Hon. Uzo Azubuike and other top government functionaries were present at the event.
