The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Kano State Government, has distributed agricultural inputs under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme to 1,000 farmers in Kano.
The programme, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, is a pilot effort to strengthen Nigeria’s status as an attractive investment hub, particularly in agriculture.
The distribution focuses on rice and tomato production in Bagwai and Kura local government areas of Kano, supporting 1,000 farmers with 500 in each crop category.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, highlighted that the SAPZ programme, backed by the federal government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is aimed at improving agricultural productivity by providing skilled farmers with essential resources.
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He called on farmers to maximise this support for optimal output.
Also speaking, the National Programme Coordinator, Dr Kabir Yusuf, emphasised that the initiative aligns with the president’s agenda to bolster food security, foster job creation and stimulate economic growth.
He explained that the pilot would serve as a model for further SAPZ rollout across all 16 LGAs in Kano.