Kaduna, AGRA stimulate $100m investment in rice, maize value chain

The Kaduna government says it is collaborating with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa to strengthen agricultural policies and boost smallholder farmers’ ability to participate in the maize and rice value chain. Agric commissioner Murtala Dabo announced this at a stakeholders’ meeting. Mr Dabo said the project, funded by AGRA, would guide the ministry in policies that would foster the harmonisation of initiatives for the growth of the agriculture sector into an agribusiness. Mr Dabo said the previous AGRA project led to the revival of the State Committee for Agriculture, the development of the first agricultural policy, and the evolution of an inclusive and participatory planning and budgetary process. He said that the project also led to the establishment of a database and the flagship initiative of the sector in Kaduna.
The commissioner noted with delight that the project would implement programmes, monitor them, build resilience, and establish an enabling and inclusive environment that would stimulate agricultural products and services markets. Mr Dabo said, “The PASS project would ensure that the government drives agriculture through a business development strategy to catalyze the ministry’s ability to respond to farmers’ needs. The project would be instrumental in driving sustainable growth to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the state.“ (NAN)