OKPE/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has pledged infrastructure support to agricultural businesses in the state, including improved electricity supply and road access, as part of efforts to encourage private investment and expand economic opportunities in the sector.
Oborevwori made the commitment on Saturday during visits to Tatcha Farms in Okuloho, Okpe Local Government Area, and Amity Global Farms and Manroy Livestock Farms at Ohorhe 1, Uvwie Local Government Area.
The visits gave the governor an opportunity to assess the operations of the farms and hear directly from their managers about the challenges limiting production and expansion.
Rather than providing direct funding to every business, Oborevwori said the government would concentrate on creating the infrastructure and operating environment needed for viable enterprises to grow.
He said better electricity, roads and other basic infrastructure would help agricultural businesses increase production, create employment and contribute to the state’s drive to diversify its economy.
The governor disclosed that a 33kV electricity project had been awarded for the area, saying improved power supply would benefit farms and other businesses operating there.
He also announced plans to provide an access road linking the community where Amity Global Farms is located with the Warri-Sapele Expressway.
Oborevwori said improved road connections would make it easier for farmers to move agricultural produce to markets while opening up opportunities for further investment in rural communities.
He said the state government’s recent Economic and Investment Summit had also been used to draw attention to investment opportunities in agriculture and other sectors, with the expectation of attracting both local and foreign investors.
According to the governor, the state’s economic team had been directed to visit businesses and farms to identify their challenges and determine areas where government intervention could support expansion.
He said agricultural assistance would not be limited to large commercial farms, stressing that small-scale farmers would also be considered in the distribution of fertiliser and other inputs.
The governor, however, warned that such inputs must get to genuine farmers and should not be diverted for resale.
He also encouraged civil servants and other residents to take up farming, arguing that greater participation in agriculture could strengthen food production, create jobs and provide an alternative source of livelihood.
At Tatcha Farms, the Chief Executive Officer, Olorogun Alfred Mrakpor, thanked the governor for the visit and said it offered the company an opportunity to demonstrate its contribution to food production, employment and agricultural development.
At Amity Global Farms, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Idama Amurun, disclosed that the company was exploring partnerships with Brazilian investors and the Delta State Government to expand cassava production and establish processing facilities.
Amurun said cassava presented opportunities for industrial production beyond food, including starch and ethanol, which he said could create additional employment.
He said the farm currently employed more than 300 workers and produced crops including pepper and cucumber.
The farm’s expansion, however, he said, was being constrained by inadequate financing, delays in the supply of day-old chicks, limited facilities and accommodation, as well as difficulties in accessing land.
The concerns raised during the inspection provided the state government with specific areas for possible intervention as it seeks to deepen private-sector participation in agriculture and increase the sector’s contribution to Delta’s economy
