Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday commissioned Springfield Agro limited crops protection chemical plant, a member of Kewalram Chanrai Group, which deals with the provision of total farm solutions to the Agric sector of the Nigerian economy.
Commissioning the plant at Ewu-osi located on Sagamu-Ibadan expressway, the Vice President saw the need for the expansion of industrial capacity across value chain to guarantee food security in the country .
Senator Shettima who was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, noted that the private sector has to complement government policies in this regard with a view to redefining the trajectory of the nation’s economy.
He expressed concern that despite being blessed with vast arable land and the potential to be the food basket of the world, Africa’s share of global manufacturing remains less than 2%, saying Nigeria has no excuse not to be at the forefront of reversing the reality by creating a more enabling environment where local firms can thrive, innovate and compete globally.
According to him the duty of Government is to remove barriers and provide the necessary support for businesses just as
agriculture remains a cardinal priority of President Bola Tinubu as evident in the quality and scale of programmes designed to support farmers in increasing their productivity and yield through research institutes, mechanisation schemes and cutting edge technology, our focus on food security in Nigeria.
Saying the commissioning of the Agro Chemical plant aligned with the federal government agenda to combat hunger and enhance national food security, he commended the Springfield Agro limited for investing in the country since its inception in 2004, demonstrating its resilience, foresight and commitment to the growth of the agricultural sector.
The Vice President also commended the Ogun state Government for creating an enabling environment for the companies to thrive, urging other states to emulate the vision of President Tinubu in achieving food sufficiency, Industrial expansion and Job creation for the citizenry.
In a remark, Governor,Dapo Abiodun, represented by his deputy, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele lauded Springfield Agro, a subsidiary of the Kewalram Chanrai Group for making giant strides in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, providing total farm solutions, from seeds and fertilizers to tractors and post-harvest processing , adding that Its expansion into manufacturing is a major step forward.
The Governor affirmed his administration’s commitment to sustain the conducive environment for industries to flourish in the State, saying agriculture remains a critical component of the administration’s economic development strategy.
Governor Abiodun assured Springfield Agro and other investors in the state of the commitment to strengthening its Ease of Doing Business framework, reiterating that it will continue to provide the infrastructure, policies, and incentives needed to encourage investments such as the Springfield Agro Limited, which not only drives economic growth but also creates a more inclusive and equitable society.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Kewalram Chanrai Group, Mr NG Chanrai, said the success of springfield in nigeria has given the company confidence to expand to other countries, adding that in line with the federal government policies on agriculture, the organisation is poised to producing quality products that meet the demand of the consumers, noting that company has provided employment for over 4000 people in the state.#
