NEPZA, Farmcrowdy to partner on agric special economic zone

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and Nigeria’s first Digital Agriculture Platform, Farmcrowdy, are discussing options for the establishment of an Agriculture Special Economic Zone for Nigeria.

Farmcrowdy Founder, Onyeka Akuma as part of this, had visited the Managing Director of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba to present the company’s plans of adding value through agriculture products processing and expansion of the sector through a special zone.

Adesugba, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with Farmcrowdy for such economic zone.

He described Farmcrowdy as an innovative firm with great contribution to agricultural business in Nigeria.

“I have known Onyeka Akuma as a trailblazer in revolutionising agriculture through the use of technology and crowd funding since the inception of Farmcrowdy.

“Nigeria is paying special attention to agricultural development in order to feed an ever growing population, create jobs and generate wealth to eradicate poverty.

“NEPZA is ready to support Farmcrowdy in its plan to set up an Agriculture Special Economic Zone,” he said.

According to him, there is no doubt at all about the ability of the young Nigerians in Farmcrowdy in making great things happen in this ever important sector of the Nigerian economy.

He restated its committment to transform the Authority into a truly investors’ service entity to multiply foreign direct investment in the country.

Akuma had informed the NEPZA boss of Farmcrowdy’s plans to play an important role in the export of processed agricultural products to other African countries as soon as the African Continental Free Trade Area commenced.

Akuma, while seeking the support of NEPZA, said it was time for Nigeria to increase its non oil exports and earn the much needed foreign exchange in a more diversified economy.

He said that Farmcrowdy was poised to go to the next level of its organisational development by using the Special Economic Zones to actualise its dream

Farmcrowdy, inaugurated in 2016, is Nigeria’s First Digital Agriculture Platform that empowers rural farmers by providing them with improved seeds, farm inputs, training on modern farming techniques and market for sale of farm produce.