The Kano State Government has strengthened its ties with the European Union (EU) and German development agency GIZ to accelerate agricultural transformation and boost the state’s rural economy.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed this commitment on Wednesday during a high-level meeting at the Government House with a delegation from the EU-VACE Agriculture Value Chain Facility and the Transformative Agriculture Systems for Rural Economic Development (BMZ).
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Sulaiman Wali Sani, Governor Yusuf emphasized that revitalizing agriculture is central to his administration’s economic agenda.
“We are repositioning agriculture as a primary driver of development,” the Governor stated, as noted in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad.
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He said that the initiatives highlighted by his administration include
Deployment of advanced farming equipment and artificial insemination services, Sustained interventions to control livestock diseases and protect farmer livelihoods, Utilizing the livestock sector to create jobs specifically for women and youth.
The European Union Representative to Nigeria, Hugh Briggs, emphasize that Kano remains a strategic partner due to its massive agribusiness landscape.
While the EU’s intervention focuses on Climate-Smart Agriculture in addressing environmental challenges while increasing yields to Strengthen the connection between local farmers and larger markets by attracting agribusiness opportunities to improve productivity.
Dr. Andrea Ruedigar of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) revealed that Germany is currently implementing five major development projects in Kano.
These projects target specific value chains, including dairy, tomatoes, and ginger.
“Our interventions are designed to address low productivity and post-harvest losses while supporting economic diversification,” Dr. Ruedigar explained.
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On his part the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Aliyu Isah Aliyu, said that these international partnerships are vital for technical expertise and fostering innovation within the state.
As Kano State aims to create a more resilient food system that reduces poverty and secures the state’s position as a leader in Nigerian agricultural production.
