7th December, 2018
The Edo State Government has said that its Food and Agro Fair will hold in Benin City, the state capital, and will ensure that farmers sell food items directly to consumers at affordable prices during the Yuletide.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Emmanuel Usoh, was quoted in a statement as saying that the maiden edition of the fair was a marketplace, where food and agricultural produce would sell for lower prices during the season.
He said the fair would give farmers the opportunity to sell and make profit, as trucks would be sent to the 18 local government areas in the state to convey their wares to the venue of the fair.
He said, “We are targeting over 100 local and international food and agricultural exhibitors, especially farmers who will sell at the fair. We are looking at a 50kg bag of rice selling for N15,000 during the fair as against the N19,500 current market price in the state. There will be abattoir points where cattle would be slaughtered and sold at affordable prices.”
He said the fair would also provide opportunity for rural farmers to exchange ideas with investors, processors and ready buyers in agribusiness sub-sector.
“The fair will commence with an agro marketing training for about 1,000 farmers and we are optimistic that the event would boost agricultural production in the state in particular and Nigeria in general,” he added.
The commissioner added that the fair, which was being organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Enterprise, would hold every quarter of the year beginning from 2019. The Punch reports