Oyo state is among six beneficiary states listed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for implementation of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SPAZs) programme.
Oyo state makes up cluster 2 of the SPAZs project alongside Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states.
The project aims at boosting the rapid development of modern agro-processing capacity in the country.
Dr. Chucks Ezedinma, team lead of the African Development Bank (AfDB), alongside other delegates of AfDB and those of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), stated this during a courtesy call on Governor Seyi Makinde, at Oyo governor’s office, on Monday.
Speaking, Ezedinma explained that AfDB was presently undertaking an appraisal of the Special Agro- Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs).
He pointed out that the ongoing appraisal was aimed at designing the programme in a way that will be transformational, youth-oriented, gender-oriented and environment-sustainable.
The establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) is an integrated development initiative designed to establish Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) across the country aimed at concentrating agro-processing activities within areas of high agricultural potential to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities.
With financing to be provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB), this project covers the proposition of establishing agro-Industrial Parks, Agro Transformation Centres and Agro support systems.
According to a AfDB document seen by InsideOyo.com, the industries shall utilise products derivable from horticulture, rice, industrial cassava, and cocoa as feedstock.
