Agriculture: Bauchi holds stakeholders engagement on proposed SAPZ project

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The state Ministry of Agriculture has yesterday, held a Stakeholders’ Scoping Workshop on the Proposed Bauchi State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), Phase II project.

Speaking at the event at Bauchi State Agricultural Development Project (BSADP) office, the state Commissioner of Agriculture, Professor, Simon Madugu Yalams said SAPZ is one of the projects introduced by the African Development Bank (ADB).

Represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Bala Mohammed of the state on Agriculture, Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, the Commissioner explained that based on the performance of the SAPZ and quality of the proposed project, other banks such as Arab Development Bank, International Bank for Agricultural Development are also funding the project.

He noted that, been a concise project, SAPZ cannot be started without ensuring that the concerned people are fully aware and educated about it.

“The purpose of the Workshop today is to sensitize the stakeholders, the farmers, the locations, the communities that are going to benefit to know that the project is coming”, he said.

The Commissioner added that the Workshop will also give the participants the opportunity to know what is expected of them and their environment, particularly at this time when the project is taking into consideration, environmental assessment.

“This is because any project has environmental impact, therefore, we want to assess, what are the negative impact the project is going to cause to the environment, what are the environmental issues that the project will benefit from, so today we will discuss them, if there are any problem with the project we will know how to mitigate them”, the representative of the Commissioner said.

He further explained that without meeting with the people that are in the communities, the problems would not be known for possible solution before the project takes off.

“If there is anything that we think will bring problem to the community in future, we will bring it up today so that we can trash it, the community will know that yes as a result of this project so so things are going to happen but we have devised a way of mitigating them”, he pointed out.

Aliyu Gital said during the cause of the project, the participants are expected to play some identified roles to ensure it is fully utilized by the people it is meant for.

He stated that Bauchi state been among the two states selected from the six states of the North will work together with the consultant to ensure that all the standard set for the project are met by Bauchi state.

“Our Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed is very forthcoming, is very proactive, he has done his part, he will still continue to do, but what is left for us now and the consultant is to make sure that all the standards that are set are been met”, he said.

“Like you have heard from one of us, the university has to be involved, the Army have to be involved. So, to make sure that we are selected, each and every individual that is going to be affected by this project must be consulted, has his consent and has a positive contribution that is going to make”, the SA to the Governor on Agriculture informed.

He said two participants were selected each from across 20 local government areas of the state with Bauchi LG having five slots including the university Community, security and the media as well as government officials.