RismadarVoice Reporters, May 21, 2026
The Anambra State Government has unveiled plans to strengthen agro-industrialisation as part of efforts to enable farmers earn foreign exchange through commercial-scale production and export-oriented agricultural processing.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ben Odoemena, disclosed this during the inauguration of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, a tuber crop processing company located in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
The newly inaugurated company, established by businessman and industrialist Ikenna Okafor, is designed to process yams, cassava, potatoes, and other tuber crops for local and international markets.
Speaking at the event, Odoemena said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo was shifting focus from subsistence farming to industrial-scale agriculture aimed at driving economic growth and creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers.
According to him, encouraging large-scale agricultural production would not only enhance food security but also create opportunities for farmers to participate in export markets and generate foreign exchange earnings.
He stated that the establishment of processing facilities would help address challenges associated with post-harvest losses by ensuring that farm produce is preserved, processed, and prepared for export instead of being wasted.
Odoemena noted that agro-processing initiatives align with the state government’s broader vision of modernising agriculture and integrating value addition into the sector.
He added that the government would continue supporting processing industries capable of strengthening agricultural productivity and reducing waste.
According to the commissioner, technology-driven processing facilities would make it easier for farmers to access international markets and benefit financially from their produce.
Chairman of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, Ikenna Okafor, said the company had already commenced large-scale yam cultivation on a 200-plot farmland in Ufuma and had begun earning foreign exchange through agricultural exports.
Okafor explained that the company was established to tackle the recurring challenge of post-harvest losses while opening new export opportunities for local farmers.
He stated that the company had secured approvals from food processing regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, as well as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria.
According to him, the company intends to process tuber crops including yams, cassava, and potatoes while ensuring minimal waste in the production cycle.
He also said the initiative would contribute to employment generation and strengthen farmers’ access to international markets.
The inauguration attracted farmers, government officials, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector who inspected the company’s processing facilities.
Also speaking at the event, Director of the company, Dr Esther Okafor, described the project as a significant step toward advancing agricultural processing and export development in the state.
The Soludo administration has consistently identified agriculture, industrialisation, and export-led production as key pillars of its economic development strategy for Anambra State.
