Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has led a high-powered delegation to India to attract investors in agriculture and food production. The delegation’s visit was facilitated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) project, for which Taraba State is actively working to qualify.
The team visited several agro-processing factories and held strategic sessions with the founders and owners of the facilities to present the Taraba SAPZ project. Governor Kefas expressed hope that the state will be selected for the establishment of the SAPZ, which will create opportunities for processing companies to be sited in the state. This, he believes, will stimulate increased agricultural production and boost the state’s economy.
Taraba’s top priorities under the SAPZ initiative are rice production, other grains, and root and tuber crops, all of which are already being cultivated extensively in Taraba State. The Governor emphasized that the state’s agricultural sector has vast potential, but currently, Taraba has minimal processing activity despite its significant agricultural output.
During the Indian trip, the delegation visited and engaged with AgTech Innovation Labs, Prasad Seeds Company, PAN Seeds Company, agro-confectionery companies specializing in value-added agricultural products, a recycling paper manufacturing factory, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Company Ltd.
Almost all the companies expressed their readiness to visit Taraba State and participate in the upcoming Taraba Investment Summit, scheduled for May 21, 2025. Dr. Dileepkumar Guntuku, who led the AgTech Innovation Labs engagement, also helped identify potential private sector partners, including Prasad Seeds Private Limited, Mackson Group, OmSree Papertek Private Limited, Pan Seeds, and CREC3.
These companies are being coordinated into a consortium to sign a Joint Venture Agreement with Taraba State in compliance with the AfDB SAPZ guidelines. Under the SAPZ model, investors will provide 85% of the required financing, while the government provides 15%, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.
The Governor’s visit aims to attract investors to leverage access to the wider agricultural market that Taraba State offers. In preparation for this year’s farming season, the Governor said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is currently planning to flag off the fertilizer distribution exercise and expedite the distribution of tractors procured by the government to support land preparation for the 2025 farming season.
The delegation from Taraba State includes high-ranking officials such as the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, commissioners, and special advisers. With this initiative, Taraba State is poised to unlock its agricultural potential and boost its economy through strategic partnerships with investors.