St Ignatius to get $14M agro-processing facility

St Ignatius and satellite villages in the North Rupu-nuni, Region Nine, are expected to benefit from the planned construction of a $14 million agro-processing facility to assist farmers with adding value and extending the shelf life of their produce.

The Ministry of Agriculture last Thursday said the project was announced to the residents and farmers in St Ignatius by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a recent visit to the region.

“We want to ensure your produce is more valuable by helping you to process these commodities so that you can earn more. This year we’ll expend $14 million to construct an agro-processing facility right in St. Ignatius. We’ll also refurbish the existing facility and install equipment to process peanuts and cashew nuts. A peanut sheller and a peanut skin remover will be installed. The facility will also have all the necessary equipment to make peanut butter, jams, and jellies, as well as coolers, chillers, and industrial scales. So this facility will be of an international standard,” Minister Mustapha was quoted as saying in a release issued by the ministry.