BY: NASIRU MOHAMMED WAZIRI, KANO
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a major Nigerian government initiative supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other partners says about 25,000 farmers would benefit from the project in sixteen (16) local government areas of Kano state.
Alhaji Shehu Babangida, the communication specialist of the project disclosed this while training farmers, Journalists and health workers on nutrition held in Kano on Wednesday.
The training tittle: “One day joint Media Sensitization training on Behavioral change communication for improved Nutrition was funded by IFAD, Islamic Development Bank ADB, Supervise and operated by SAPZ.
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The project focuses on providing awareness to the farmers on new farming techniques, providing a market for via creating another chain of off takers and emphasizing Nutrition for both farmers and in crops production stages.
In her introduction speech, the facilitator Hajiya Rabi Mustafa Sadiq Knowledge Manager and communication officer SAPZ Project Kano explain that the project will lay emphasis in rekindling Tomatoes, Sesame, and Groundnut and Rice farming and enhanced its production also create a chain market.
Hajiya Rabi also reveals that the project is segmented into phases, adding that the phase one covers sixteen (16) local government in Kano state.
Shehu Babangida, Revealed that the first batch of the project has captured the data of 16, 000 farmers from 8 local governments of the project Area, while dry season farmers comprises 9000 people are to benefit from the project, with Nutrition intervention of the project.
Dr Auwal Musa Umar, Senior Nutrition officer from Kano state government explained that Kano state have task the state be true for statistic to come up with the updated version of statistics of total local farmer in the state, in order to come up with the sophisticated plan aids farmers and various sectors.
Professionals from different disciplines were also invited and present papers Guests the like of Dr RUKAYYA Yusuf Aliyu, from BUK and Malam Bashir Lawal also called on the participants especially the media personals presents to redouble there efforts to sensitise masses in there various programs and News bulletins to focus on the Nutrition embrace culture for better society.
GLOBAL TRACKER reports that the project is aimed at transforming raw farm produce into finished goods, boosting rural economies, creating jobs (especially for youth/women), increasing incomes, and ensuring food security through modern agro-processing hubs.
These zones concentrate processing activities in areas with high agricultural potential, integrating production, processing, and marketing for improved value chains and exports, with Phase I in 7 states and plans for Phase II across more.