Anambra State agricultural revolution received massive boost with the commissioning of phase-one of Lynden Integrated Farms by Governor Willie Obiano at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area Friday.
Lynden Farms which has a capacity to produce two million birds per annum is expected to augment the three million currently produced in the state thereby bringing the state’s total output to five million birds per annum.
The completed phase of Lynden Integrated Poultry Farms which is one of the signature projects initiated by the government as part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmes spearheaded by the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) include a double-deck housing 100,000 chicks with automated feeding and waste disposal processes and capacity to produce 2500 eggs per day.
Commissioning the project, Governor Obiano said that the modern poultry facility would produce high quality eggs and poultry meat to meet the state’s food security needs and galvanize local poultry production in collaboration with out-growers across 21 local governments of Anambra State.
These efforts he observed would generate three hundred and fifty thousand (350, 000) direct jobs and one hundred and fifty thousand (150, 000) indirect jobs.
Governor Obiano expressed delight that with Lynden Farms coming on stream and the efforts of out-growers, Anambra under three years of his administration was set to surpass its poultry needs.
He stated that the government was already making plans to meet the maize requirement of the farms for the production of feeds by increasing the cultivation of maize across the state from 70,000 to 137,000 metric tonnes.
The arrangement he noted, would be similar to that of Interfat Breweries which was getting its sorghum supplies from Songhai Farms also in Igbariam.
The governor commended Lynden Farms for identifying with his administration’s “Aku luo uno” initiative by bringing their wealth home and called on other wealthy Ndi Anambra to emulate them and assured all that the state was safe and conducive for investment.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Chief Afam Mbanefo said that Lynden Farm was promoted by young corporates with innovative vision to transform poultry production in the state noting that with the phase-one of the factory completed, the worth of investments so far attracted into the state agricultural sector amounts over $1b (USD).
The Commissioner stated that when the second-phase of the factory is completed, it would have nine hatchery and broiler houses with capacity for producing 540,000 eggs per day.
On his part, the Chairman of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) and traditional ruler of Umuoji, HRH Igwe Cyril Enweze stated that Lynden Farms was the largest of the nine agricultural ventures so far attracted to Anambra by the Obiano administration, which on completion would be the most automated and largest in the South East region.
Igwe Enweze praised the synergy between the private sector and the government tracing the success story of ANSIPPA to transparency of process in the implementation of the vision of the government.
Explaining the vision of the company, Chairman of Lynden Integrated, Chief Clem Nwogbo, said that the company was committed to the economic advancement of its host community of Igbariam and Anambra State adding that the second phase development would commence in earnest with the feed mill, broiler production houses and setting-up of the out grower schemes across the state.
Chief Nwogbo thanked governor Obiano for his vision and commitment to developing the state as a major agricultural hub with ANSIPPA as the investment engine room and the Ministry of Agriculture for sustaining the vision assuring that the company was at home in Anambra and would fulfill its corporate and civic obligations.
The total investment outlay of Lynden Integrated Farms at full capacity is valued at $180million (USD).
PHOTO CAPTION
(L-R): Let Production Begin: Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano cuts the tape. He is flanked by HRM Igwe Patrick Kelly Nzekwe of Igbariam, and Chairman of Lynden, Chief Clem Nwogbo with Directors of Lynden, Engr. Chike Okonkwo (1st left) and Mr. Dozie Mbanefo (extreme right) during the Commissioning of Lynden Integrated Poultry Farms at Igbariam on Friday.
Send your news, press releases/articles as well as your adverts to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
