By joshua 
………..More concentration on businesses owned by women in the state.
Kogi state is not resting on its oars to see that the state becomes a hub for goal-driven investors in a bid to boost the agricultural sector of the state, with job creation and youth engagement which is the 3rd thematic agenda of the New Direction Government.
This time, the state is partnering with a US-based organic Mushroom cultivation, production and training outfit, Mbeng Adio Mushroom Farm (MAMF), founded by Mrs. Bridget Mbeng to create an estimated 5,000 direct jobs and economic empowerments and sustainability by training and investing in women who form crust of the Yahaya Bello-led administration.
According to the deputy governor of Kogi State, chief Edward Onoja, while receiving the investors says,the Yahaya bello Model for agriculture is in tandem with what MAMF has envisioned for the state.
He said mushrooms, whether oyster, shitake or other species are high-value crops with rising demands across the world.
Mbeng Adio Mushroom Farm (MAMF) is a mushroom cultivation farm making impacts in the agricultural markets in Cameron and Central Africa, producing 36,000kgs of its award-winning mushrooms annually. Its harvesting and post- harvesting processing, through to marketing and sales. Operational capacity spans through the mushroom production value chain, from the production of spawn culture to full stage.
Using the MAMF community-based farming model, collaborative economic development initiatives and strategic focus on operational diversification, MAMF has acquired an international recognition with over 10 years of business success.
The international mushroom market is valued at about 16billion Us dollars and pitched to grow higher within the next five years. The value chain spreads across pharmaceuticals, food and food processing.
Fortunately, according to pilot studies, research and analysis, Kogi state is well positioned to play in this sector by not only increasing the revenue, but also have many industrial players overtime.
MAMF is however interested in using the Kogi state of Nigeria as a spring board for expansion and growth opportunities as a market leader in Africa and propel its product into WEST Africa and East Africa.
MAMF has set up a training scheme for 1,050 cluster members as a pilot scheme for the 20,000 targeted beneficiaries for Kogi State Government. The proposed project will kick- start with training of an initial 1,050 participants then grow into the 20,000 targets. The critical phase of this project will include farm set up, first critical operation and first revenue circle which will take place in the first 8 weeks.
With the idea of cluster formation of participants by Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA), an Agency which ensures that SME’s thrive through it’s innovations,led by the workaholic MD/CEO, Hajiya Rekiya Sanni Onaivo, the idea is expected to grow tremendously.
However, the money-spinner Mushroom farming will be beneficial to a targeted number of 8,400 farmers and SMEs especially women through agri-business cooperatives which will make them off-takers in the competitive markets.
This partnership with MAMF will be in lockstep with the ongoing income-generating policies of the government , as well as create massive job opportunities, export opportunities and solve the ever increasing economic problems of the country as a whole.
End
Yemi Balogun,
KEDA