Vicampro Farms plan N10bn potato processing plant in Manchok — Official

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A mechanised agro-allied company, Vicmapro Farms, said on Monday that it would establish a N10 billion potato French fries plant in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Secretary and Legal Adviser of the company, Mrs Adediran Adeola, told the News Agency for Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the project was “the only one in West Africa’’.

According to Adeola, the French fries plant is a massive project with the latest technology that will cost about N10 billion.

She said the plant had the capacity to process 2,500 tonnes of potatoes daily and create more than 2,000 jobs.

Adeola described French fries as a matchstick-size cut potato, normally deep-fried but could also be cooked in an oven.

She added that it was generally salted and often served hot, either soft or crispy with ketchup and eaten as part of lunch, dinner or as a snack.

She said: “Majority of the French fries that we consume in Nigeria are imported.

“Therefore, the plant when completed will bridge the importation gap, open up rural communities and create huge employment in rural areas.

“Projects like this change the face of the community it is located in and injecting N10 billion into this project will change the economy of Manchok forever’’.

Adeola said that the company currently had about 700 hectares of land in Plateau where it grows potatoes, but that it was grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the plant.

She said that to successfully run the French fries plant, the company needed about 10,000 hectares of land, in addition to the 700 hectares to meet the factory’s daily need of 2,500 tonnes of potatoes.

The company’s scribe said the firm was already discussing with the Kaduna State Government and other relevant authorities to gain access to the land located along Manchok-Jankasa Road.

“We have 500 farmers in Plateau and so far, we have got about five hundred farmers in Manchok ready to partner with us on potato production.

“We will give them quality seeds, help them with the needed technology and mechanisation to ensure better yield and buy off the produce from them so that the plant can operate successfully.

“By the time the project is full blown, we hope to engage over 1, 000 farmers and another 1,000 people to work in the factory.

“It is a win-win situation for Manchok people, Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole because it is a huge job opportunity that we will be creating there,’’ Adeola said.

The secretary explained that Manchok was chosen for its soil and climatic condition which made it suitable for potato production.

“Beside climatic condition, Manchok is strategically located as a gateway to markets.

“It is closer to Abuja, Kaduna and Plateau states from where the French fries could be shipped to other parts of the country.

“What we want from Manchok people as a community is to give us a peaceful environment to operate and be ready to contribute their energy in terms of workforce,’’ she said.

She said the company would soon conclude negotiations with the community on the five hectares of land it required to construct the factory, offices and staff quarters.

“We hope to commence construction of the factory and office facilities by the first week of July once the paper work is concluded.

“Production will commence as soon as the factory is ready,’’ she added.

When contacted, the traditional ruler of Manchok or the Moro’a people, Malam Tagwai Sambo, said the project was a welcome development, adding that such investment would improve the community’s economy.

Sambo told NAN that the project would not only transform Manchok, but that it would equally provide jobs and open up the community to the global economy.

On providing the needed land for the project, the traditional ruler said that the traditional council, the local and state governments were still negotiating with Vicampro Farms.

“This is truly a welcome development for us. I assure you that we will give our support to ensure that the project becomes a reality,’’ Sambo said.