Agric Minister Inspects N6bn Gezawa Commodity Exchange Market

By Murtala Muhammad

Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo-Nanono has reiterated Federal government readiness to facilitate activities of commodity exchange market to add value to Agric produces.

Nanono gave the assurance on Saturday while inspecting the N6 billion Gezawa Commodity Market Exchange project, at Gezawa local government area of Kano state.

The minister expressed satisfaction on the establishment of the public-private partnership market, which he projected will add value to a business transaction between farmers, millers and stakeholders along Agric produces value chain.

Nanono used the occasion to unveiled Federal government plan to avail farmers and grain traders at the popular Dawanu International Grain Market with Quarantine service.

The minister stressed that the quarantine service will enable grains coming out of Dawanu market to have a global standard for export.

Lamenting acute shortage of extension workers in the country, Nanono revealed his ministry’s plan to bridge the wide gap through massive employment of the technical personnel to assist farmers.

“With the establishment of Gezawa Commodity market here in Kano, farmers will now be availed the opportunities to market their grains at the maximum value. The market will also create a linkage between exporters and farmers.

On his part, project Manager, Gezawa Commodity Market Exchange, Mr Binchang Binfa said the phase 1 of the project, which is now at 95 per cent completion has the capacity to contain over 10, 000 metric tons of grains.

Mr Binfa said the market targets over 80,000 farmers and attract 3,000 cooperatives.

The project manager said the facility which includes warehouses, ships for exporters, aggregators, export terminal for commodities and online trading floor.

He solicited federal government input and support to develop the market in the areas of Agric machinery for farmers, polishing and grading machines for grains.