NIGERIA – Nigeria’s Cross River State Government is set to commission the first ultra-modern rice and cocoa processing factories in Ikom and Yala at the first quarter 2019,reports the Leadership Newspaper.
The states Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof.Anthony Ineji, said the construction works are underway with efforts geared towards ensuring the commercialization early next year.
“Of course we are in the end of the year,and of course the project will be commission at the first quarter of next year for us to start full processing of the crops.”
The commissioner said that the projects possess a great opportunity to the country’s economy and will improve industry sector.
“I am of the opinion that those who are farming in rice, this is their life bond because their economy will improve from their own angle.
It will be able to boost local production of rice and cocoa and processing which is the value addition we have always emphasized. It is a great chance for Cross riverians and for farmers,” the commissioner said.
Upon commissioning, the factories are expected to provide more employment opportunities to and build more capacity.
This comes at a time when the parts of the country are facing rice shortage due to logistic challenges facing resulting to the delay in distribution- says to the ministry of agriculture.
The state government is also set to commission yet another cocoa processing factory by the end of the year.
According to the minister of agriculture,the factory has been installed with modern equipment to process 240 tons of cocoa daily, which meets the international standard.
“A lot of work has been done here and all key structures and facilities have been put in place making it ready for test-running at the end of December,” he said
The factory is set to process cocoa from the state and neighbouring countries among them Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon into liquor and chocolate bars for export into china and European markets.
