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Showing posts with label ATASP-Phase1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATASP-Phase1. Show all posts

Friday, March 13, 2015

ATA-SP Phase 1 to attract private sector investment – Adesina



NaijaAgroNet
The Federal Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-Phase1) will support infrastructure as four fasten Crop Processing Zones are to be implemented, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The project, he said came as a joint effort from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the African Development Bank(ADB) develop programmes for capacity building of the
youth and also create 200,000 new jobs for them.

NaijaAgroNet also report that while speaking at the project launch in Abuja, Dr Akinwumi  Adesina said, “The project will support the costs of infrastructure and value chain development and programme management for four Staple Crop Processing Zones to be implemented in Enugu, Anambra, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa States and will add an additional 20,000 metric tonnes of key commodity crops per year and create 200,000 new jobs for the youth.”

Also speaking at the launch, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga, affirmed NaijaAgroNet that the institute is to back up the programme with significance addition on cassava, rice and sorghum and also guarantee the programme extends to the north central zones, through capacity building and training of the youth.

Dr Nteranya Sanginga said “We supported the first cassava bread and now we are also supporting the government to monitor, train and give new varieties which would be more productive.It is a five- year phase, but we have to start very quickly for the centre to be established here, we want it to be operational in 6 months’ time.”

Chidozie Anibueze/GEE
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