Anambra State Agricultural Value-Chain Development Bill

Purpose

To support the development of aggregation, processing, logistics and market-access infrastructure that allows farmers to capture more value from their production.

Problem Statement

Farmers across Anambra State typically sell through middlemen with limited aggregation, processing or cold-storage infrastructure, which suppresses farm-gate prices and increases post-harvest loss.

Legislative Objectives

• Support the development of aggregation centres and cold storage at priority agricultural nodes.
• Improve transport links between farms and aggregation points, in coordination with the Rural-to-Market Connectivity Bill.
• Support digital marketplaces and market-information tools for agricultural produce.

Definitions

Aggregation Centre

A facility where produce from multiple farmers is collected, sorted and prepared for processing or onward sale.

Proposed Provisions

1. 1.A framework for identifying and prioritising aggregation-centre and cold-storage sites based on baseline agricultural data collected alongside the Business Census.
2. 2.Support for farmer cooperatives to organise around aggregation infrastructure.
3. 3.Coordination with digital-marketplace initiatives to connect farmers directly with processors and buyers.
4. 4.Alignment with the Economic Transport Planning Bill on farm-to-aggregation logistics.

Institutional Responsibilities

• Relevant Anambra State ministry of agriculture, statewide.
• Office of the Member representing Nnewi South I to coordinate with local farmer cooperatives.
• Relevant federal agricultural development programmes as potential co-financing partners.

Financing Implications

Aggregation and cold-storage infrastructure financed through a mix of development-finance institutions, agricultural-sector development-partner programmes and private processor investment, with government facilitating site identification and cooperative organisation.

Implementation Mechanism

2027: baseline agricultural production, crops and existing informal aggregation patterns are documented alongside the Business Census. 2028: first aggregation-centre pilot at a priority node.

Monitoring Mechanism

Tracked under the Business and Infrastructure categories of the Accountability Dashboard.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved farm-gate prices through reduced dependence on informal middlemen.
• Reduced post-harvest loss through aggregation and cold storage.
• A stronger link between local agricultural production and processing or export markets.

Legal Considerations

This proposal is intended to operate within the legislative competence of the Anambra State House of Assembly and in conformity with applicable federal law, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Land Use Act, the Public Procurement Act and relevant sector legislation. Final drafting will be reviewed by legislative counsel prior to introduction.