Anambra Signs MOU With Chelsea Farms: Poised To Boost Food Production

To further boost agricultural activities and increase food production in Anambra State, the state government in line with its Agric Policy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chelsea Farms Ltd worth $ 188 million ( N 68 billion ).The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
Signing the MOU for the state, the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano said agriculture had gained momentum in the state, since he assumed office, saying the state had done area mapping to ascertain the formation of soils suitable for individual farming products.
Governor Obiano disclosed that the approximate cost of the MOU was $188 million, with the state’s equity contribution amounting to about $18 million ( N 7.2 billion), while the investors are to contribute about $170 million (N 68 billion ).
The governor further disclosed that the revenue sharing ratio is about 85% for investors,10% for states, while the host community gets 5%•
He said his administration’s objective in the Agricultural sector is not just to achieve food sufficiency and generate surplus for export but also to create activities that will generate jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
He noted that a lot has been achieved in the State’s Agric sector because of the clear vision his administration initiated through the Agric Committee it set up upon inception, adding that a major milestone it achieved was the identification of various crop belts to encourage investors to site their agro-businesses appropriately.
Governor Obiano who acknowledged that the project has the potential to contribute significantly towards the realization of his administration’s vision for agricultural transformation, urged the investor to immediately hit the ground running to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of ANSIPPA and Traditional Ruler of Umuoji community, Igwe Cyril Enweze explained that the project is in two phases with a completion period of 4years, adding that the investor has promised to commence the first phase of the project within 6months and complete it in 18 months time.
The Chairman of the Investing Company, Chief Patrick Chidolue who noted that for the first time, the state is having a clear blueprint for the Agric sector and a structured system for its actualization, commended Governor Obiano for his vision and promised to deliver the Project in record time.
On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization Processing and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture, Mr Mike Ogbuekwe noted that through its Land Bank initiative, the present administration has been able to address the challenges of non availability of large parcels of land for large scale Mechanised Farmers and assured that the Ministry will follow through to provide the support required of it for the success of the project.
In a vote of thanks, the Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Chief Joe-Billy Ekwunife pointed out that the realization of the agency’s mandate has been made a whole lot easier through the efforts of the governor at creating the enabling environment for investors to bring their wealth into the state.
Formal signing of the MOU documents by the governor and the investor formed the highpoints of the event.

Anambrastate