Kaduna Government to Unleash Policy Documents to Strengthen Agric Sector
The Kaduna State Government says it has formulated policies that will enhance rapid agricultural growth and ensure improved food security, employment and economy diversification.
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hajiya Halima Lawal, during a press briefing, stated that the soon-to-be-unleashed policy documents were in response to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 and 2 and the need to diversify the economy.
According to her, it is expected to end poverty and hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture and create self-sufficiency in food production.
The policy, Halima noted, was focused on commodity value chain actors engaged in crops, livestock, dairy, fisheries and all other related activities.
The commissioner said, “The policy is further concerned with women in agriculture, food and nutrition security, markets, infrastructures, revenue generation, climate change, promotion and development of agri-business and digital agriculture.
“It was conceived to accelerate agricultural development and facilitate its overall socio-economic prosperity by addressing the huge challenge of inefficient and ineffective agricultural systems.
“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,” Halima revealed.
She further stated that the document will provide a 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.
Halima praised the efforts of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for funding the evolution of the policy through a two-year capacity strengthening project and Synergos Nigeria for their assistance.
She also lauded the support of the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
