By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Kaduna.
Closer collaboration among all stakeholders and regional integration are key ingredients for the expansion and sustenance of agricultural activities in the North West geo-political zone of the country, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said.
Speaking during a high level meeting of the Governors of the region on agric action plan in Kaduna Sunday, Tambuwal said working together will ensure access to finance, and improvement of infrastructure that will support the sector.
According to Media Aide to Tambuwal, Imam Imam, the meeting, coordinated by the Usman Bugaje-led Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), had presentations from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Sassakawa Global 2000 and the Nigerian Export and Import Bank.
Tambuwal said the North West has competitive advantage in key areas and will seek to exploit it for the development of the region and its people.
“In Sokoto, we have advantage with cash crops like wheat, rice, tomato and onions. Others have such advantages with crops like ginger, cotton, Maize and other cereal crops.
“So when we tap all these resources together, pool investment and promote avenues of access to finance, the sector will be transformed and its real value will come to the fore,” the Governor added.
Governors Tambuwal, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, the host Governor, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, and deputy governor of Zamfara, Ibrahim Wakkala, attended the meeting.
They were joined by their Commissioners of agriculture, permanent secretaries and directors of agricultural services.
The meeting is in a closed door session as of the time of filling this report.
