Kaduna to Give Agric Sector A Boost,  Unveils Blueprint

Kaduna to Give Agric Sector A Boost,  Unveils Blueprint

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, North – West,  Nigeria

Kaduna State Government has formulated  a roburst policy documents to enhance the unprecedent growth and development of agriculture, after nine months of research and extensive consultations. This will help give the sector a boost.

This was disclosed to newsmen at a press conference on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Hajiya Halima Lawal.

She said, the Kaduna State Agricultural Sector has experienced tremendous growth over the past years under the current administration of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

The policy evolved in response to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 and 2 and the need to diversify the  economy will develop agriculture  in the state.

 ‘’Agriculture as the economic backbone, create self-sufficiency in food production in line with the federal government’s effort to diversify the economy, reducing over-dependency on oil and ultimately create enabling environment for private sector investment.’’

The commissioner also  said that the documents  will guide ‘’all stakeholders in the state’s quest for rapid agricultural development including the private sector through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept, as well as in ‘stand-alone’ investments in line with global best practices.’’

Halima also noted that the documents will provide strong legal framework for the needed confidence to investors in the sector as well as commit  the state and local governments to adequate annual budgetary allocations to agriculture.

Women are not left out she added for she is very passionate  about  agriculture .

“Women are not left out for we have sectors  of commodity chains development such as livestock,  poultry dairy, fishery and other activities.

Halima thanked  both the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa(AGRA) for funding  the evolution of the policy through a two-year capacity strengthening project,  and the facilitator, Synergos Nigeria for their assistance.

 She also commended the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA),  the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UKAid and the Rockefeller Foundation for their support.