Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has said the state was among states in the country with most arable lands for sustainable agriculture and food security in the country.
Governor Oborevwori stated this yesterday when he received on courtesy call, officials of the African Development Bank, AfDB and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture led by the Chief Agro-Industral Economist, Dr Chuma Ezedinma at Government House, Asaba.
He said the state was blessed with arable lands for the cultivation of crops ranging from cassava, maize, yam, rice, assorted vegetables and even rubber; which could be grown in commercial quantities.
He expressed the state’s readiness to partner with the AfDB and other stakeholders for the establishment of the Special Agro-processing zone in the state.
He said: “I welcome your team to Delta state on this important field mission on the assessment of the state’s readiness to situate a Special Agro-Processing Zone.
“I understand that this will determine the African Development Bank’s decision to site this project in Delta State. I know after your assessment, you will see that we deserve it. It is important to state that we are one of the states that have the largest arable lands in Nigeria.
“The establishment of this special agro-processing zone is something that we desire in this state. We appreciate your coming, we are hospitable and we are ready to partner with you.”
Earlier, Dr Ezedinma said the visit was a preparatory mission for the establishment of the second phase of the Special Agro-industrial processing zones programme in Nigeria.
“The African Development Bank is currently conducting what we know as a preparation mission for the establishment of the special Agricultural Processing Programme, the second phase in Nigeria.
“Nigeria has already obtained a loan of about 520 million US Dollars for the first phase of the programme and that is why we have a team here from the National Office of the programme”.