From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government and the United Nations have signed a Technical Cooperation Project through the Food And Agriculture Organisation(FAO) to address food security and leverage its potential in agriculture.
The project also seeks to support smallholder farmers to address hunger and malnutrition and to stimulate inclusive socio-economic growth in Kaduna State.
The Technical Cooperation Project, titled ‘’Smart Tomato Value Chain Enhancement Through Sustainable Practices for Livelihood Improvement in Kaduna State,’’ was signed at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Thursday.
Speaking earlier, Governor Uba Sani said that ‘’Kaduna State holds great potential for Nigeria’s food security as the leading producer of many agricultural produce, including ginger, maize, soybean, tomato, sorghum, etc.’’.
The Governor further said that ‘’agriculture accounts for more than 51% of our GDP and employs more than 70% of our population, mostly youth that makeup nearly half of our over 10 million population.
‘’We are also blessed with favorable climatic conditions that support the production of a vast array of agricultural produce and year-round agricultural activities,’’ he added.
‘’Kaduna State is one of the leading tomato-producing states in the country. We hope that this new partnership will catalyze our rapid progression toward attaining and maintaining the coveted top spot as a major producer in Nigeria and West Africa,’’ he said.
According to him, the primary source of income for the majority of the people is agriculture, adding that that ‘’is why we allocated about N74 billion or 9.3% of our 2025 budget, in our effort towards meeting the 2014 Malabo Declaration of 10% budgetary allocation to agriculture.’’
Governor Uba Sani pointed out that the budgetary allocation to Agriculture demonstrates his administration’s commitment to food security and sustainable livelihood, even as a subnational government.
He, however, argued that accelerating agricultural growth and transformation is capital-intensive, which is why the Kaduna State Government welcomes ‘’this opportunity to partner with the FAO and enhance our tomato production value chain through sustainable practices.’’
In his remarks, FAO Country Representative Koffy Dominique Kouacou said that the organization ‘’ is committed to strengthening the entire tomato value chain—addressing challenges in production, post-harvest and strengthening cooperatives.’’
He said FOA will focus on enhancing production techniques to improve yields and quality and reduce post-harvest losses through better storage, processing, and infrastructure development.
The Country Representative said that FAO will continuously advocate for agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems in the northwest region and Kaduna state in particular.
‘’Kaduna State—and indeecanapacity to become a powerhouse in agricultural production, value addition, and food security, not only for the nation but for the continent,’’ he added.
According to Kouacou, there are a lot of opportunities for economic growth, foo,d security, and prosperity ‘’if we harness this potential strategically and collaboratively.’’
He said that the signing of CP marks the beginning of a transformative initiative—one that will not only enhance agricultural productivity but also improve livelihoods and economic resilience in Kaduna State.
‘’This signing ceremony represents more than just an agreement; it is a milestone in our shared journey toward sustainable development, job creation, and inclusive economic growth,’’ he added.
Kouacou also commended Governor Uba Sani ‘’ for his visionary leadership in fostering collaboration and creating an enabling environment for development. ‘’
