Nigeria wants to stop just exporting raw farm products. Instead, the aim is to focus on local processing and industrial production. Agribusiness leaders, investors, and policymakers will meet to discuss investment opportunities in Africa's agricultural value chains.
This important meeting is the fifth Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference. It will take place from 25 to 28 October in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Organisers say they want to link agricultural producers with investors, processors, financial institutions, and international markets.
Howard Usen is the South-south zonal coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative. He is also the chairman of the conference’s planning committee. Usen said this event aims to create partnerships and attract investment in agriculture.
In a statement about the conference, Mr Usen mentioned that the gathering will focus on finding chances in agricultural processing, financing, technology, market access, and climate-smart farming.
The theme of the conference is “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity.”
The organisers expect to gather government officials, investors, development partners, commodity producers, agribusiness leaders, technology providers, and financial institutions. They will look into projects that can bring profits and boost agricultural production.
One main goal is to develop agro-processing facilities, storage systems, packaging, mechanisation, and cold-chain infrastructure. This will help producers keep more value from what they produce.
The organisers also want to explore finance options for agricultural projects. This includes blended finance, climate finance, and private-sector investment. They will also look at how Nigerian businesses can grow in other African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
They believe the conference will allow project developers to meet potential financiers. Producers will also get a chance to build relationships with processors, exporters, and potential buyers.
Nigeria has a lot of agricultural resources. But turning this production into competitive agro-industrial businesses needs investment in infrastructure, processing, logistics, and access to reliable markets.
The organisers aim to bring these parts together. They want to create opportunities for investment matchmaking, business-to-government talks, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships.
The event will also discuss climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land use, renewable energy, and green financing. This is important because climate change is increasingly affecting farming and rural livelihoods.
Policymakers and regulators will join discussions on the policies, infrastructure, and incentives needed to attract investment and strengthen agricultural businesses.
This conference comes as there are efforts to make agriculture a source of jobs, food security, and economic growth in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.
In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the federal government and the Niger Delta Development Commission are working on a $500 million agricultural development and investment fund. This fund aims to boost agricultural production and create jobs in the region.
This initiative shows the area’s potential to grow agricultural businesses around products like cassava, oil palm, cocoa, rice, fish farming, and livestock.
The Uyo conference should give stakeholders a chance to see how investment, processing, and better market connections can help make these opportunities real businesses.
Choosing Uyo also gives Akwa Ibom a chance to showcase its agricultural resources and investment opportunities to new business partners.
Agricultural growth and rural development are key parts of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda. This includes developing value chains around important agricultural products.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state is making an investment plan that covers agriculture, tourism, aviation, power, maritime, manufacturing, and technology.
The conference could help the state connect with investors interested in agricultural production, processing, and export businesses.
But the true value of such meetings will depend on whether they lead to real investments, operating businesses, market deals, and jobs.
The organisers said the conference will include business talks and chances for stakeholders to find projects and build commercial ties.
This four-day event will take place in Uyo from 25 to 28 October.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇