Mr Binfan Binchang, Consultant Officer, Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange, an ultra-modern agricultural produce market in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State says the market will provide 5,000 jobs when operational.
Binchang made this known on Tuesday while briefing members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Kano Chapter on the activities and benefits of the market to farmers not only in Kano but in the country in general.
According to Binchang, the first batch of the market project if completed, would provide direct job opportunities to no fewer than 2,000 farmers and other people in the state.
He said that the ultra-modern market would provide an enabling environment for buyers and sellers of agro-commodities to transact business without knowing each other.
Binchang said that the market had established a business synergy with 16 different foreign companies across the globe to ensure exportation of the farm produce.
He said the centre, which is a product of various business investors, came to life to unlock the vast potential of agricultural value chain in the nation.
He further said that it would assist in eradicating the menace of middlemen in agricultural businesses that had posed a threat to its existence and in reducing the additional value farmers stood to gain.
“The eight hectares Phase 1 of this market will be completed within June and July and as you can see we have attained 80 per cent completion of the project.
“However, we have estimated that when completed, the centre would provide about 2,000 direct jobs to the people of Gezawa Community and other professionals,’’ he said.
Binchang noted that if the second and the third phases were completed, it would provide another 3,000 direct job opportunities in the state.
He said over 1,000 farmers’ cooperatives had been identified within the state to work with, including AFAN.
In his remarks, the Chairman, AFAN in Kano, Alhaji Farouk Rabi’u-Mudi said the establishment of such a modern market was a welcome development in the country, especially to farmers.
He said the market would end farmers’ plight in conducting businesses as well as promoting agro-business activities in the state and the nation in general.
NAN
