The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said Gov. Uba Sani has transformed the agro industrial landscape of Kaduna State within
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said Gov. Uba Sani has transformed the agro industrial landscape of Kaduna State within two and a half years of his administration.
Kyari stated this in Kaduna when he led Commissioners of Agriculture from the 36 states of the federation on a courtesy visit to Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
He said the Governor’s achievements had made Kaduna a reference point in the country’s agricultural and agro-industrial development.
The minister recalled that Kaduna was once a textile hub due to its thriving cotton industry, noting that the state was now witnessing remarkable value addition to staple crops.
“What Gov. Uba Sani is doing in the agricultural sector of Kaduna State aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of ensuring food security and food sovereignty,” Kyari said.
He commended the state for being the first sub-national entity where the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) was launched in April, adding that Kaduna had gone beyond primary production to value addition.
Kyari explained that his delegation had toured several agro-allied facilities in the state as part of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture.
Among the facilities visited were OLAM Poultry Farm and Feed Mill, TMDK Agro-Allied Company, Tomato Jos, and the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC).
“These companies are situated outside the state capital, which will help create jobs in rural communities and reduce rural urban migration,” he said.
The minister also lauded the state government and other sub-nationals for supporting President Tinubu’s food security agenda, anchored on the availability, accessibility, and affordability of diverse and nutritious food.
He further commended Sani for his inclusive governance style, which, according to him, had attracted members of the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“We were quite impressed with what we saw and have no doubt that our brother, Distinguished Sen. Uba Sani, will perform excellently,” Kyari said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, praised the governor for surpassing the Malabo Declaration benchmark by allocating more than 10 per cent of the state budget to agriculture.
He expressed optimism that the governor could raise the allocation to 20 per cent by the end of his tenure.
In his response, Sani thanked the ministers for choosing Kaduna to host the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security meeting, describing it as a great honour.
He stated that Kaduna remained the only sub-national entity in the North with an Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre, which certifies produce for export.
Sani also said Kaduna was the first state in Nigeria to launch the SAPZ, followed by Cross River and Oyo States.
“We are investing heavily in agriculture because it contributes about 43 per cent of our GDP and employs about 60 per cent of our workforce.
“When we came in, the agriculture budget was only 0.5 per cent, but today, it stands at 12.5 per cent,” he said.
The governor disclosed that the state had distributed 900 trucks of free fertiliser to smallholder farmers in the last two years.
He explained that the distribution process was carried out inclusively, involving traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and farmer associations.
“We did not allow politics to influence the process.
“Fertilisers were distributed to deserving smallholder farmers across the state, regardless of party affiliation or location,” Sani added.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
By Hussaina Yakubu
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said Gov. Uba Sani has transformed the agro industrial landscape of Kaduna State within two and a half years of his administration.
Kyari stated this in Kaduna when he led Commissioners of Agriculture from the 36 states of the federation on a courtesy visit to Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
He said the Governor’s achievements had made Kaduna a reference point in the country’s agricultural and agro-industrial development.
The minister recalled that Kaduna was once a textile hub due to its thriving cotton industry, noting that the state was now witnessing remarkable value addition to staple crops.
“What Gov. Uba Sani is doing in the agricultural sector of Kaduna State aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of ensuring food security and food sovereignty,” Kyari said.
He commended the state for being the first sub-national entity where the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) was launched in April, adding that Kaduna had gone beyond primary production to value addition.
Kyari explained that his delegation had toured several agro-allied facilities in the state as part of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture.
Among the facilities visited were OLAM Poultry Farm and Feed Mill, TMDK Agro-Allied Company, Tomato Jos, and the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC).
“These companies are situated outside the state capital, which will help create jobs in rural communities and reduce rural urban migration,” he said.
The minister also lauded the state government and other sub-nationals for supporting President Tinubu’s food security agenda, anchored on the availability, accessibility, and affordability of diverse and nutritious food.
He further commended Sani for his inclusive governance style, which, according to him, had attracted members of the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“We were quite impressed with what we saw and have no doubt that our brother, Distinguished Sen. Uba Sani, will perform excellently,” Kyari said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, praised the governor for surpassing the Malabo Declaration benchmark by allocating more than 10 per cent of the state budget to agriculture.
He expressed optimism that the governor could raise the allocation to 20 per cent by the end of his tenure.
In his response, Sani thanked the ministers for choosing Kaduna to host the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security meeting, describing it as a great honour.