….boasts that state will stop importation of starch into country
….as ministry installs biggest fish processing plant in Nigeria
The Bayelsea State Government has taken steps to ensure that Nigeria discontinues the importation of about 95% (ninety five percent) of starch consumption.
To this end, the state is set to produce about 60 tons of starch per day for local and international consumption, which will effectively put a stop to its importation.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Dude Week, gave this cheery news while giving accounts of his stewardship at the state-organized Inter-Ministerial/Agency briefing and Score Card Presentation programme which enters its third day today.
Week claimed that after its completion, the state’s Industrial Starch Factory at Ebedebiri in the Sagbama local government area of the State will be the best in the country.
Hon. Week said, “We must curb apathy in the market, and by doing that we have arranged for off takers that are already on standby to sell over 250 metric tons of cassava, to be produced every day.
“We also have an Integrated Poultry Farm with over 15,000 layers holding capacity at Ebedebiri, hatchery of over2,000 eggs and in Ede-Epie.
“This is a similar on-going project, that will be the highest producers of eggs in the country when completed,” he added.
On the much talked-about Bayelsa State Palm Company, of which much media reports have raised eyebrows, with claims that the government has donated 1,200 hectares of land to Fulani herdsmen, Hon. Week said, the land belonged to Bayelsa State Government and that the government has only carved out a site of 250 acres for the cattle breeders to build ranches for themselves.
Week disclosed that, the wastes from these cattle will be gathered and used to increase the nutrient capacity of the state’s farms livestock.
He added that a central Abattoir Complex/Livestock Input Market has been built for the screening of all slaughtered meats, before their sales.
He also made mention that, 500 Yenigwe Fish Farm Pond, Feed Mill equipment, Quality Assurance laboratory in the Feed Mill building and warehouse have all been built, to receive and process feeds as they come into the Hatchery Complex and Fish Processing factory.
The Commissioner also told his audience that, processed and packaged fish will be ready for the market from the Aqua Cultural village at Ebedebiri, every twenty four (24) hours.
Accordingly, he explained that, administrative blocks and restaurants for farmers have been built in the complex and that all these projects will in turn create employment for Bayelsa youths and women who will later become employers of labour.
In his own remarks, the Director of Press and Publication, in the Ministry of Information, Mr. Chris Odi said, those skeptical Bayelsans who are of the thoughts, of “Wetin dem don do?” have finally gotten clarifications on the activities of the restoration government.
Mr. Odi thanked the State Commissioner of Information, for packaging such a wonderful programme and prayed for it to be a continuous exercise.
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