Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has commissioned the Plateau State Potato Value Chain Project in Mangu Local Government Area, describing it as a significant milestone in efforts to position the state as Nigeria’s foremost centre for potato production, processing and value addition.
The project comprises a modern Tissue Culture Laboratory, potato processing facilities, a farmer training centre and mechanised agricultural equipment. It is expected to enhance seed quality, promote mechanised farming, create employment opportunities and boost farmers’ incomes across the state.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Governor Mutfwang said the project symbolises the revival of an initiative that was close to failure when his administration came into office. He credited its successful completion to effective leadership and proper project execution.
“Today is a story of recovery, a story of repositioning and a story of putting round pegs in round holes. When you get the right people to do the right job, you get the right results,” the governor said.
He noted that the potato value chain extends beyond cultivation to include seed multiplication, processing, packaging, transportation and marketing, stressing that the initiative would open up business opportunities and provide sustainable employment for thousands of residents.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s reliance on imported potato products, Mutfwang said Plateau State was prepared to supply high-quality potatoes capable of competing in local and international markets.
“This is the beginning of the end of that story. We want to assure all the top businesses in Nigeria that you can buy potatoes from Plateau State and they will compete with potatoes anywhere in the world,” he said.
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The governor further disclosed plans by the state government to begin local production of potato chips and potato flakes, while incorporating value-added potato products into the school feeding programme to stimulate local production and improve nutrition.
According to him, the administration’s goal goes beyond infrastructure development and is focused on improving the economic wellbeing of citizens.
“Legacy is not about buildings; legacy is about improving the welfare of our people and putting purchasing power in their pockets,” he stated.
Mutfwang explained that the disease-free potato planting materials distributed during the event were meant strictly for multiplication. He urged farmers to embrace improved seed varieties, mechanised farming practices and cooperative systems to tackle crop diseases, increase yields and reduce dependence on manual labour.
“Our problem is production. We don’t produce what we need. In the next three to five years, the story of potato on the Plateau will be a different story,” he added.
The governor also commended the Mangu community for donating land for the project and announced plans for additional investments, including a modern processing centre, the revival of the Agricultural Services and Training Centre (ASTC), and the establishment of an organised agricultural market to drive industrial growth in the area.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Samson Bugama, described the project as the start of the “Plateau Potato Revolution.” He said the Tissue Culture Laboratory would provide disease-free planting materials and support the development of indigenous potato varieties capable of competing globally.
According to him, the project integrates seed production, farmer training and processing facilities into a single value chain in line with the government’s vision of making potato the state’s flagship agricultural commodity.
Chairman of Mangu Local Government Council, Emmanuel Mwolpun, described the initiative as a major breakthrough for farming communities, noting that more than 80 per cent of Plateau residents rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
He expressed confidence that improved access to quality seedlings and mechanised farming would increase productivity, reduce poverty and strengthen Plateau’s status as Nigeria’s leading potato-producing state.
Project Director of Transparent Engineering Construction Nigeria Limited, Engr. Adegoke Olowale, commended Governor Mutfwang for prioritising quality and timely delivery of the project. He added that its construction generated direct and indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled youths within the host communities.
Also speaking, Steve Bawa of Fruits and Veggies Limited said the initiative had already benefited about 3,000 farmers through the training of 100 licensed community seed producers.
He disclosed that 10 containers of certified potato seed had been imported and cultivated on about 90 hectares of farmland, describing the programme as one of the largest potato seed multiplication initiatives in West Africa.
According to him, the Tissue Culture Laboratory will ensure a continuous supply of disease-free planting materials needed to sustain increased potato production for years to come.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator of the Plateau State Potato Value Chain Support Project, Chief Jerry Gushop, said the initiative had accomplished within one year what had remained unrealised since the project was conceived in 2017.
He attributed the progress to the commitment of the Mutfwang administration and highlighted several achievements, including the establishment of the Tissue Culture Laboratory, construction of 118.4 kilometres of rural roads and culverts, development of nine community markets and nine diffuse light storage facilities, installation of 17 spring capture systems and 22 water-harvesting structures, and the establishment of three potato processing plants in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi.
Gushop further disclosed that the project had distributed 1,000 water pumps, 1,200 bags of quality seed and 270 tonnes of improved seed varieties, alongside herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. He added that hundreds of farmers and value chain actors had received training in seed multiplication, modern production techniques, processing, packaging and agribusiness management.
“These are not just numbers; they have changed lives. They are mothers who now earn more, youths who now see farming as a business, and communities that now believe government can work for them,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the project would continue to improve farm productivity, expand agro-processing activities, increase household incomes and position Plateau State as a major player in Africa’s potato industry.
