By Samuel Igbavboa
The Edo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two international companies: Heifer International and Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited to boost poultry value chain development in the State.
Speaking at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, Benin City, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Stephen Idehenre, while expressing appreciation to Heifer International and Amo Farms for partnering with the Edo State Government, said the initiative will boost agricultural production particularly in the poultry value chain of the State to meet the ever-growing demands locally and internationally.
Mr. Idehenre emphasised that the MoU will bring solutions to the offtake challenges faced by poultry farmers in the State.
He revealed that by mid-December the ground-breaking project with Amo Farms will be commissioned, adding that the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi that is near completion will further boost the effort of the State Government in the agriculture sector.
Heifer International’s Country Director, Mr. Rufus Idris, expressed his delight at signing the MoU with Edo State Government which, according to him, was made possible by the Senior Vice President of Heifer International, Adesuwa Ifedi, an indigene of Edo State.
According to Mr. Idris, the tripartite partnership with the State Government and Amo Farms will help increase the volume of poultry production in the State, which will in turn help to offset the deficit in poultry production in the country that is currently at 30%, thereby placing Edo State at the forefront in poultry production.
Mr. Idris stressed that the partnership with Amo Farms will amount to the production of an average of 10,000 Noiler birds per day, which is in line with the Edo State Government’s desire to improve livestock production.
He added that the MoU will lead to an increase in the number of young people going into the agriculture sector, get farmers out of poverty by 2025 and activate 10,000 farming clusters that will be increased to 500,000 small holder farmers by 2030, including the establishment of a livestock feed production plant which is underway.
Dr. Amoola Oduntan of Amo Farms stated that the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, was the first to embrace the Noiler Project for poultry farmers in the State.
He said that the 10,000-capacity processing plant that will be sited in Edo South Senatorial District will cushion the growing demand for poultry meat, and lauded the efforts of the State Government in the growth and sustainability of poultry production in the State.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Peter Aikhuomoghogbe, in his closing remarks, expressed appreciation to the State Government, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, the Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Barr. Solomon Ibahadon, and the partners for making the event a reality.
According to Aikhuomoghogbe, the MoU will aid the State Government in achieving its Mega Agenda through the alleviation of poverty and will make Edo State the agriculture hub of the Country.
