Cynthia Ezegwu
The Federal Government has dedicated $538.05 million to determine Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) throughout the nation as a part of ongoing efforts to rework Nigeria’s meals techniques and enhance agricultural productiveness.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Monday on the Community of Practice Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Abuja.
Kyari mentioned the initiative, which leverages personal sector participation, goals to make Nigeria’s meals techniques extra productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. He added that SAPZ initiatives had already been launched in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ogun States, with extra to observe.
“The Federal Government has made substantial investments of $538.05 million, leveraging private sector involvement in establishing industrial hubs and agricultural transformation centres,” the minister mentioned. “The zones are projected to stimulate a total of $1 billion in investments by 2027.”
He famous that the federal government had supplied 2,000 tractors and different implements to assist farmers and improve nationwide meals manufacturing.
Kyari additional revealed that Nigeria’s progress in agriculture had been recognised by the African Union, noting that the nation had made vital enhancements within the biennial evaluation of agricultural improvement.
He additionally highlighted the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme, which goals to cut back post-harvest losses estimated at N3.5 trillion yearly, strengthen worth chains, and guarantee nationwide meals sovereignty.
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Kyari referred to as for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments, stressing that synergy and shared accountability have been important for reaching sustainable meals safety.
In her remarks, the Head of German Development Cooperation, Dr. Karin Jansen, mentioned Germany’s world undertaking on Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies supported agricultural reforms in 9 companion international locations throughout Africa and Asia.
She mentioned the undertaking linked meals safety, local weather motion, and biodiversity conservation, guaranteeing that meals techniques remained sustainable.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Rosemary Effiong, reaffirmed stakeholders’ dedication to partnering with the federal government to advertise agroecological practices and advocate for elevated agricultural funding.
