The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has expanded the scope of his efforts to turn Anambra State into a model agricultural state, attracting $61m investments into commercial poultry farming in the state.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lynden Integrated Farms Limited in the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Tuesday, for the establishment of a modern poultry production and processing farm in the state, Governor Obiano emphasized that Agriculture remains the number one pillar in his economic agenda.
According to him, the proposed ultra-modern poultry farm which will be located on seven hectares of land in Igbariam will generate 250 jobs during construction and 200 permanent jobs as well as 2000 indirect jobs subsequently.
Speaking further on the plans of his administration to alter the agricultural landscape of the South East, Governor Obiano observed that, “at the moment all the day-old chicks sold in the South East are brought in from Oyo state. We want to change that. We want all the day-old chicks sold in this area to come from Anambra State.”
He further explained that his plan is to approach agriculture in two areas – create a favourable and sustainable environment for commercial agriculture to thrive and to roll out programmes that will upgrade the class of machete and hoes wielding farmers to adapt to the use of new implements and improved seedlings. “We have mapped out specific areas where cassava, rice and maize will best and established cooperatives in those specific areas. We plan to play to our full strength in agriculture,” the governor assured.
Earlier in his introductory remarks, the Chairman of Lynden Integrated Farms Limited, Mr. Clem Nwogbo had explained that his company plans to develop a two-phased modern integrated poultry production and processing farm with day-old chicks and then subsequently upgrade its facilities in order to provide high quality meat, eggs from layers and fresh and frozen poultry meat from broilers.
“The first phase of this facility will comprise the setting up of 200,000 broiler houses with 8 pens, 93,000 layer house with 3 pens, 33,000 pullets house with 1 pen, 2000 birds per house slaughter house and a feed mill. We plan to double the production capacity of this farm by extending the broiler and layer houses to accommodate 400,000 broilers, 186,000 layers and 66,000 pullets after 3 years of full operation of the first phase,” Mr. Nwogbo further explained.
According to him, Lynden Integrated Farms Limited has the capacity to position Anambra state as the center of excellence in poultry farming in the South East and South South. Thanking Governor Obiano for creating the enabling environment that has encouraged investors to flock to Anambra State, Mr. Nwogbo explained that Lynden was committed to commissioning the facility 15 months after the turning of sod on the proposed site.
Mr. Nwogbo further revealed that the company plans to implement a robust CSR programme which will encourage the adoption of the best practices in poultry farming to small scale farmers, support educational initiatives in the host community and supply day-old chicks to farmers under and out-grower scheme.
Earlier, the Chairman, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, and Traditional Ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Enwezor explained that the equity ratio of the company is 90% for the investing Company, 6% for the state government and 4% for the host community.