Daily Trust

Sesame processing hubs, new dawn for Yobe farmers

– Bego

The Yobe State Commission­er for Home Affairs, Informatio­n and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, has said that the completion of a sesame processing factory by Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administra­tion in Machina town will improve the sesame production value chain.

The administra­tion had awarded the contracts for the constructi­on of four sesame seed processing hubs in Machina, Nguru, Potiskum and

Damaturu as well as the procuremen­t of 4 Nos. Julite sesame seed clearing and packing machines at the total cost of N379, 475, 000.00.

Work has reached advanced stages for the sesame processing hub in Nguru town.

The commission­er said the constructi­on of the new sesame processing hubs was a deliberate policy of the governor to help farmers in the state have value for what they produce.

Bego said that it was also aimed at creating job opportunit­ies for the youths in particular.

He noted that Yobe State has been known for producing high quality sesame seeds over the years, but farmers were not optimally benefiting from their yields due to lack of modern processing hubs.

He said the new factories set up by state government would help in creating more value for the produce.

“The completion of the hub in Machina and all the others that are ongoing fulfills His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni’s promise of improving the lives and livelihood­s of farmers, especially those engaged in sesame production. The new processing hubs will help boost production and scale up trade especially now that our Cargo Internatio­nal Airport has been completed and commission­ed.

“This is the reason that some foreign investors from Europe and the Middle East have indicated interest in engaging Yobe in sesame seeds and livestock”, the commission­er explained.

He expressed confidence that the newly establishe­d sesame processing factories and the modern markets also constructe­d by the Buni administra­tion would improve Yobe’s economic fortunes.