By Newspointer
Hyderabad, India – April 26, 2025
The Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has led a high-level delegation to India as part of efforts to attract foreign investment in agriculture and agro-processing.
The visit is in line with the State’s pursuit of inclusion in the African Development Bank (AfDB) Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.
The SAPZ initiative aims to transform Nigeria’s agriculture sector by creating zones that concentrate agro-processing activities to boost productivity and economic growth.
Under the model, 85% of funding is expected to come from private investors, with the government providing 15%.
During the visit, the delegation toured multiple agro-processing factories and held strategic meetings with company founders and investors.
The team presented Taraba’s SAPZ proposal and highlighted opportunities in rice, grain, and root and tuber crop production—areas where the state already has strong agricultural output but limited processing infrastructure.
Governor Kefas expressed optimism about Taraba’s prospects of being selected for the SAPZ project, saying the initiative would spur job creation, enhance food security, and significantly boost the state’s economy.
As part of preparations for the upcoming farming season, the Governor also revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is set to distribute fertilizer and deploy government-procured tractors to aid land preparation across the state.
The delegation met with leading firms including AgTech Innovation Labs, Prasad Seeds (Hyderabad), PAN Seeds, OmSree Papertek, and agro-confectionery companies, as well as construction giant China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group (CREC3), one of the world’s top 500 companies.
Many of the companies expressed readiness to participate in the upcoming Taraba Investment Summit, scheduled for May 21, 2025. Dr. Dileepkumar Guntuku of AgTech Innovation Labs is working closely with the state to coordinate a consortium of private investors to sign a joint venture agreement in line with AfDB guidelines.
Members of the Taraba delegation include:
Dr. Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State, Rt. Hon. John Kizito Bonzena, Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Tanko, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Zanau Hassan Maikasuwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security
Others are Mrs. Sarah Sabo Ali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Sarah Enoch, Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Naomi Tanko, Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Ms. Maryam Moshood, SAPZ Project Consultant
The visit marks a significant step in Taraba’s broader agenda to drive economic transformation through strategic investment in agriculture and industry.
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