The Kaduna State Government has pledged its full support for the newly launched StreFaS (Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate-Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets) initiative, hailing it as a landmark effort to secure a sustainable agricultural future for the region.
Speaking at the programme’s launch event in Zaria, Commissioner for Agriculture Hon. Murtala Muhammad Dabo described the collaboration between AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe as “a significant milestone in our journey towards a climate-resilient food system.”
He emphasized that the initiative dovetails perfectly with Kaduna’s broader agricultural transformation agenda, which prioritizes productivity gains, smallholder empowerment, market expansion, and adaptation to climate change.
“I commend TechnoServe and its partners for their dedication to promoting climate-smart agriculture practices in Kaduna State,” Dabo said. “Let us continue to work together to empower farmers, improve food security, and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector. I wish you all the best in this endeavour.”
However, the StreFaS project, scheduled to run from June 2024 through October 2027, aims to reach 25,000 farmers and eight grain aggregators across Kaduna and neighboring Nasarawa State. Its focus on regenerative production techniques for maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum is designed to enhance yields, stabilize incomes, and open structured market opportunities for small-scale producers.
By integrating climate-smart practices with strengthened market linkages, Kaduna’s government and its development partners hope to create a resilient grain value chain that can withstand environmental shocks, drive rural prosperity, and contribute to national food security.
