As part of measures to holistically develop the entire value chain of agricultural development in the Northern region of the country, the Federal Government has signed a $158.15 million financing agreement for Agriculture Value Chain Development Scheme for nine States in Northern Nigeria.
The initiative, which is designed to create a transformative opportunity for farmers and agribusinesses in the region, will be domiciled in nine Northern States, including Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina and Jigawa.
The agreement, which was signed on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had been described by industry experts, as a vital intervention that would significantly improve agricultural productivity across the agriculture value chain in the benefitting States.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, was said to have presided over the signing ceremony, describing the initiative as “a declaration of faith in the North—not as a region of deficits, but as a place of abundance”.
He said that the initiative was a fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to reduce poverty, nourish Nigerians, and restore dignity to farming families across the beneficiary States.
Shettima emphasised that the programme would serve as a steady pipeline of raw materials for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) currently under construction across Nigeria, shifting the country from exporting raw produce to exporting value-added goods, thereby creating jobs, wealth, and industrial stability.
A statement issued by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Katsina State Governor, who is doubling as the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, confirmed the development to BusinessDay.
The eight-year value chain initiative, will be implemented immediately in nine Northern States including Katsina, and it’s aimed to sustainably reduce poverty, enhance nutrition, and improve resilience of rural and vulnerable populations. The programme is co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Government of Nigeria, the statement indicated.
The Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, said that the agriculture value chain programme aligns perfectly with Katsina State’s agricultural development agenda and would complement ongoing efforts to modernise farming practices, enhance value addition, and create sustainable livelihoods for the people.
He pledged Katsina State’s full commitment to the successful implementation of the programme, noting that his administration had already put in place necessary structures to maximise the benefits for local farmers, especially women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
Also, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the signing of the financing agreement represents a significant milestone in the efforts to transform the agricultural landscape in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.
Dede Ekoue, Country Director of IFAD, noted that the programme would target about 3.1 million household members across the nine states, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, improving post-harvest handling, increasing access to business development services for youths and women agri-preneurs, and scaling up access to digital solutions for productivity.
The IFAD Country Director also added that the expected results included the creation of over 30,000 jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for youths, women, and vulnerable groups, as well as the construction of over 229km of roads across the region to enhance access to markets.(BusinessDay)
