Mr Ogunbiyi described SAPZ as a strategic agribusiness model designed to support Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda through agriculture.
Mr Shuaibu commended the leadership of the forum for the initiative.
Mr Abdullahi described the VCN as a strategic response to poverty, unemployment and food insecurity in northern Nigeria.
ASAP is a global initiative of IFAD, integrated into Nigeria’s VCDP framework.
They planned to achieve this through the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2024 to 2029.
The IFAD country director said the annual review of COSOP would help to identify ways to enhance these results in 2026.
According to him, the collaboration will ensure unique verification of each farmer.
Ms Isah reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity and improving rural livelihoods.
The initiative aims to support smallholder farmers in the rice and cassava value chains, thereby enhancing their productivity.
The commissioner urged the farmers to make judicious use of the inputs to enhance productivity.
