Sokoto State Government Ready to Partner Investors in Onions Production and Exportation
The Sokoto State Governor, His Excellency, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, has said his government is ready to partner with investors in the production and exportation of onions to boost the nations economy.
He made this statement when the leadership of National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria, NOPPMAN, paid a courtesy visit on the governor, as part of its programme outlined for the 6th NOPPMAN International Onion Conference in Sokoto.
In his address the chairman Nigeria NOPPMAN, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, thanked the Sokoto State Government for the support given to the association in the process of the conference, and the association in general.
Sokoto being the number one state in terms of onion production in the country, he further appealed to the state government for more support, most especially in the areas of supporting smallholder farmers with inputs such as: improved seeds and fertilizer, solar pumps, Onion storage facilities to reduce post-harvest loses from 50% to the barest minimum, affordable loan facility for small farmers scale and traders, support irrigation system, education for the farmers in order to booster the production, support the formalization of onion exportation, encourage repartition through Pan African Payment and Settlement System, PAPSS.
In his response, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, appreciated the effort of the association despite to hold the conference most, despite the current situation of Nigeria, especially our brothers from neighbouring West an Central African countries.
He described agricultural sector as number 4 in his 9 agenda, and said there is no way he can play with it.
It could be recalled that he disbursed hundred trailers of fertilizer and other agricultural mechineries free to the farmers across the 23 local governments in the state.
He called on the leaders of the association to use their connections to invite investors from all parts of the world into the state, as the government is ready to partner with them.
