The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly with the implementation of the pilot phase of the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) program in Kano state.
During the first joint FGN/IFAD Supervision Wrap-up Event for the SAPZ program, IFAD’s Nigeria Country Director, Dede Ekoue, highlighted the progress made in the pilot phase in Kano state.
She noted that the Accelerated Pilot Intervention (API) in Kano has proven to be a successful model for the project, stating that it would improve the welfare of smallholder farmers and boost agricultural productivity.
Pointing out specific achievements of the SAPZ pilot, Mrs. Ekoue shared her enthusiasm for the establishment of the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), describing it as a platform that strengthens the market linkage between farmers and agro-industries.
She also highlighted the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between agro-industries and farmer organizations as an important step for building a sustainable agricultural market.
She further emphasized that the SAPZ pilot has ensured capacity-building for farmer organizations, which has equipped them with knowledge of good agricultural practices and business skills. This training, she said, is essential for farmers to become effective players in the agro-industrial value chain.
“By creating these demonstration plots, the SAPZ project has provided smallholder farmers with a practical, hands-on approach to learning about best agricultural practices, leveraging the leadership of farmer organizations,” she said.
Ekoue went on to commend the partnerships forged with several institutions to support the SAPZ pilot, particularly in smart agriculture and nutrition training, stating that these collaborations form a cornerstone of the project’s success.
She underscored SAPZ’s collaboration with state and local governments, noting that their cooperation under the leadership of the state ministries of agriculture and natural resources is key to achieving the project’s goals.
Speaking on the role of the private sector, she highlighted partnerships with companies like Fidelity Bank and Mafa Rice Mill, which are contributing valuable insights on “market needs, mechanization, and product quality improvements,” and they have demonstrated a commitment to deepening their collaboration with SAPZ.
Mrs. Ekoue also shared that SAPZ has engaged a number of farmers in its operations.
“SAPZ has reached, through the pilot, 1,009 farmers, and we know that for next year, the ambition is to have 24,000 beneficiaries across Ogun and Ibadan. And we need to mobilize all our energies, knowledge, expertise, and experience to really do this qualitative job to reach 24,000 beneficiaries by the end of 2025.”