By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Implementing the Kaduna State Contract Farming document when it is completely ready, will be easy, following reforms and other policies being implemented by the state government.
Commissioner Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, Ibrahim G. Hussaini expressed this while declaring open, the Feed The Future (FTF) NIgeria Agribusiness Investment Activity Stakeholders Consultative Engagement on the Kaduna State Contract Farming Policy at Bafra Hotel Kaduna on Thursday February 17, 2022.
Honourable Commissioner Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, Ibrahim G. Hussaini expressed gratitude of the state government to organisers of the meeting.
“The reforms being carried out in Kaduna State will assist the success in implementing the document.
“Kaduna State is number one in ease of doing business, which will further make implementing the document easy,” he said.
He said he was delighted to know that farmers in every sector were present at the meeting.
The commissioner however, expressed disappointed that LGAs were not represented at the meeting.
“I think LGAs have key roles to play and inputs from them will be useful in implementing the document,” he said.
He also appealed that the document is broken down into easier languages that can be understood.
“For small holder farmers to understand and adopt the document, traditional rulers also play key roles.
“I also hope that you will simplify the document so it can be understood easily,” he said.
Speaking further, he said that the experts at the engagement will be looking at commercial agriculture moving away from subsistence and diversifying the economy, moving away from oil dependent.
“World economy is moving from oil, so in a couple of years, states that are not investing in agriculture may have financial challenges.
“I will like to thank you once again for coming, on behalf of the Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, I sincerely appreciate you, thank you very much,” he said.
The five-year USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agrilbusiness Investment Activity works to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment by measurably improving the investment climate and strengthening the range of stakeholders who operate in and around the sector By facilitating expansion of debt financing and investment in agribusiness.
The Activity is supporting sustainable growth. ultimately increasing food availability and affordability and therefore, improved food security and nutrition outcomes in the long run.
Running from 2019-2023, the Activity works with the rice. maize. soybeans, aquaculture. and cowpea value chains in Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger states.
The Activity works with Government and other stakeholders to build confidence in the agribusiness sector and to make relevant policies, laws andregulations more effective, less cumbersome; to lower compliance costs, improve the macro-environment, and to simplify statutory business functions.
The Activity works to expand access to financial services across the value chain by working with financial institutions, lead firms and smaller enterprises to helpagribusinesses secure debt financing to achieve their growth aims.
The Activity gives technical assistance and advice to support: formal and informal creditarrangements; financial product development; portfolio management risk.
The Activity works with investors and investees to create new connections and catalyze new agribusiness investments.
This includes building investors understanding and appetite for investment in the agribusiness sector as well as supporting agribusinesses to make them investment ready.
The Activity works directly with agribusinesses and through business development service providers to help agribusinesses find the financial, managerial and operational improvements and efficiencies that can make them more competitive and also to close capacity gaps that limit their ability to successfully complete growth-oriented capital raise efforts.
The Activity works with both lead firms and smaller agribusinesses, prioritizing enterprises owned and managed by women and youth.
