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By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Kogi state government in collaboration with Synergos Nigeria under the State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) has developed a policy strategy guideline draft document to drive agribusiness, investments and economic diversification initiative.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Isah Ochepa, disclosed this at the monthly meeting of the state Agriculture Vision Group (AVG) and the Agriculture Innovation Group (AIG) yesterday in Lokoja.
Ochepa said the Agribusiness policy strategy guideline document, initiated by the Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), was designed to promote the New Direction Agenda of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration in the agriculture sector.
He said if the synergy being created through the document was allowed to play, the state would be an agricultural hub for the whole nation and for the world at large.
He said it would enhance production level, marketing, and the off-shore processes and attract investors to the state.
Synergos Nigeria’s Country Director, Adewale Ajadi, in his contribution, said work on the document started few months ago with active collaboration of the BPPP, AVG and AIG.
The Country Director, who was represented by Synergos Field Manager for Kogi, Benue and Kaduna states, Mr. Victor Adejoh, said the document aimed to regulate and drive agribusiness in the state.
Ajadi said Synergos was playing a catalytic role in helping the state to develop policies that would reposition agriculture as business and do away with subsistence agriculture.
“This is the first time a policy guideline has evolved through an all-inclusive and participatory process here.
“Once the document is signed by the governor, it becomes a tool for promoting agribusiness and then, will better position the state to woo investors and woo more collaboration,” he said.
