The Kano State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has inaugurated the Multi-Stakeholders Agribusiness Forum (MAF) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The forum, inaugurated on Thursday in Kano, is expected to strengthen agricultural value chains and drive food security in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Kano State Programme Coordinator of SAPZ, Alhaji Aminu Iliyasu, said the forum would provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, farmers, investors, and development partners.
“The MAF is the cornerstone of our strategy. It will unite policymakers, investors, farmers and development partners to co-create solutions, align policies and accelerate investment across the agricultural value chain,” he said.
Mr. Abel Ameh, Rural Institutions Development Specialist, who represented the National Coordinator of SAPZ, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, described the forum as a critical step towards addressing post-harvest losses and poor market access.
“The MAF is not just another committee but a nerve centre for coordination, dialogue and innovation to ensure every stakeholder has a role in shaping Kano’s agro-industrial future,” he said.
In her remarks, Dr. Olubunmi Adebola Iluromi, Director, Federal Department of Development Partner Projects, assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide technical assistance and mobilise resources to support Kano.
She said the forum would help “unlock the full potential of agriculture not just as a source of livelihood, but as a driver of industrialisation, innovation and resilience.”
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, said the initiative aligned with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s agenda of promoting investment and sustainable agriculture.
He disclosed that the state government had recruited over 1,000 agricultural extension workers and released N500 million as counterpart funding for the World Bank-supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation Programme.
Also, the Chairman of the State House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim Karaye, pledged legislative support for the SAPZ programme through enabling laws and oversight.
The SAPZ programme is being implemented with the support of the Federal Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).