‘Plateau State is sitting on a gold mine’

Mr. Charles Ozoemena, is the Executive Director Strategy, Communication and Media for ABG Paulas Resources Limited and the company are one of the organizers of the 1st International Potato Value-Chain and Exhibition with its headquarter in Germany. Cuurrently, he is heading the Nigeria’s branch of the company. In this interview with NAOMI SANTOS and HOSEA NYAMLONG, he speaks on the benefits Plateau farmers stand to make in this venture.

CAN you tell us what ABG Paulas is all about?

ABG is a company that is here on the Plateau to project a business investment potential to the state, particularly in the areas of potato and other root crops. We intend assembling the whole agricultural experts, farmers, producers of potatoes and rootcrops on the Plateau to develop a roadmap on how to develop the potato value chain and all the root crops. Plateau State is the best in Nigeria in the production of potato and that is why we are in Jos to unlock the opportunity to the world.

It has been discovered that potato is the most consumed food globally and Nigeria is the 4th largest producer of potato in the sub-saharan Africa, which produces over eight hundred and forty million tonnes yearly.

Sadly to note that most of the farmers in Nigeria are still farming with local tools while the world has changed from subsistence farming to modern commercial mechanization farming.

ABG Paulas partners across the globe are ready to come for the exhibition in Plateau State,  the first exhibition which was scheduled last year 2020 was put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic

The Executive Governor, Rt. Hon Simon Bako Lalong asked us to shift the programme to this year 2021, September 14-16. Unfortunately, when it was about to commence, the Rukuba Road crisis erupted that led to a 24 hour curfew, barely 20 days to the exhibition.

Again, we were asked to shift the programme to November 15, 2021. By the grace of God, farmers are part of our stakeholders and our agro scheme would engage over 30 thousand farmers from Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi, which are major local governments that produce potato in a large quantity

We were made to understand that you recently visited Plateau State government to seek for synergy on agricultural development. What is this all about?

Yes, we are hosting our exhibition on the Plateau and the synergy with the government is because of the great opportunity found in Plateau. Plateau State is sitting on a gold mine and I don’t think there is any state in Nigeria that produces more vegetables than Plateau State.

So far, in Nigeria, we have 15 states that produce potato, but Plateau state is the highest producer of potato.

Moreso, mainly potato on this part of the country is only harvested to be cooked, fried, but not being processed for further consumption in different ways. Like potato pancake, potato chips, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato scallops, potato waffle etc.

Nigeria today is still importing French rice, potato and other mixed vegetables into the country. I believe Plateau State would be the best state that can provide all these great opportunities.

On this note, we are focusing on more than six areas that farmers would benefit as follows: Massive production in using mechanized farming equipment, storage technology that would store farm produces for 9 months. We observed that farmers on the Plateau are faced with the challenge of storage of their farm produce. Over the years, farmers would only harvest, sell on time to avoid the potatoes getting spoiled or rotten.

Improve farming system that potato would be farmed 5 times in a year, 2 times during raining season and 3 times dried season. New technology machines that would clear the bush, make rigs, plant seeds, weed, harvest and store, processing, packaging and marketing. Training of farmers on how to use the modern day machine, tools, that would expose them to the reality on how to get more high yield with high quality seeds that resist crops disease like potato blight etc.

We are an agro allied company that is also into capacity building with a network across the globe. Plateau State venturing into this business would project Plateau to the rest of the world in agriculture.

In specific terms, how beneficial is this project to farmers in the state?

We are coming to add value, develop and create more market for farmers to sell their farm produce with high value to customers through the off takers. We are bringing companies that would come and establish processing industry on the Plateau as well as bringing in wealth through knowledge. When you bring knowledge, you bring wealth that would empower the farmers on the Plateau in different ways. We are going to meet with farmers to fashion out modalities and also prepare to be part of the programme that is coming up in November 15, 2021.

Farmers would benefit from small loans that would enable them start up the process and currently we are negotiating with the banks to make the funds available for farmers. Training would be available for farmers on information communication technology (ICT), which is the solution provider in this cutting edge technology today.

Are there some challenges facing you?

There are challenges, but we are not afraid, one of the major challenges is the issue of insecurity which has become a stumbling block to our international partners to come to Jos. Some of the partners would have to deliver their paper through webinar.

Your final words

We are targeting to create 3 million jobs on the Plateau and the state is known for its peace and tourism. Plateau State government should not allow crisis to disrupt the peaceful nature of the state. I am calling on the citizens/farmers of Plateau to key into this project which has come to stay. These investments would be for both local and international investors that would invest. This opportunity would improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state.

Finally, we are inviting all the media to be part of this event and state government to embrace ABG Paulas to ensure that the programme is a success. It can only take place in a conducive environment of peaceful co-existence.