The federal authorities’s drive to rework Nigeria’s agricultural sector has recorded a big milestone, with over 12,000 farmers throughout eight native authorities areas of Kano state in 2025, benefited from climate-smart agricultural inputs below the Particular Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The intervention comes because the SAPZ Programme intensifies neighborhood engagement and consciousness campaigns throughout further catchment areas to broaden participation and deepen grassroots impression.
The SAPZ initiative, a flagship agro-industrialisation programme, is being applied in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Agricultural Improvement, the Islamic Improvement {Bank}, the African Improvement {Bank}, collaborating state governments, and personal sector buyers.
Presently operational in seven states—Kano, Kaduna, Imo, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun—in addition to the Federal Capital Territory, the programme is designed to draw personal funding into agro-processing, improve meals safety, create employment, and scale back reliance on meals imports.
Talking on the event, the Information Administration and Communication Officer of the SAPZ Kano Programme, Hajiya Rabi Mustafa Sadiq, mentioned the initiative is targeted on empowering smallholder farmers, agro-processors, merchants, and repair suppliers, significantly girls and youth.
She famous that the programme is structured round key elements, together with the event of Agro-Industrial Hubs, improved agricultural productiveness and market linkages, strengthened coverage and institutional assist, and efficient programme coordination.
In 2025, about 15,463 smallholder farmers have been profiled throughout main worth chains in eight LGAs, reflecting the programme’s rising attain and impression within the state.
Moreover, over 12,000 farmers have benefited from an identical grant scheme offering climate-smart inputs for rice, tomato, and groundnut production.
The scheme promotes shared duty, with girls contributing 20 per cent of enter prices, males 30 per cent, and youth 25 per cent, whereas the programme covers the remaining steadiness.
To strengthen worth chain integration, the SAPZ Kano Programme has established a Multi-Stakeholder Agribusiness Discussion board, bringing collectively farmers, processors, {financial} establishments, and related authorities companies.
As a part of enlargement efforts, the continued consciousness marketing campaign targets further LGAs—Dawakin Kudu, Kumbotso, Tofa, Gwarzo, Madobi, Shanono, Minjibir, and Gabasawa the place stakeholders are being sensitised on programme alternatives and participation processes.
On his half, Dr. Auwal Muhammad highlighted the introduction of a Matching Grant Facility within the new LGAs to enhance entry to inputs, assist worth addition, promote local weather resilience, and strengthen market linkages.
He added that the programme targets 75,000 direct beneficiaries in Kano and Ogun states, beneficiaries, together with girls, youth, individuals with disabilities, and internally displaced individuals, with anticipated outcomes of elevated productiveness and improved livelihoods throughout key agricultural worth chains.
In the meantime, conventional leaders within the 8 benefiting LGAs have recommended the initiative and pledged continued assist, urging contributors to successfully utilise the alternatives and lengthen the advantages inside their communities.