Kaduna reviews agriculture investment plan to attract investors

Kaduna State Agriculture Core Delivery Team (CDT) is reviewing the State Agricultural Investment Plan to attract local and direct foreign investment to the sector.
In its November repor,  the CDT indicated that the review would target information on priority crops such as ginger, maize, soyabeans, tomato and rice being produced in commercial quantity in the state.
The report noted that the state currently produces 40 per cent of maize in Nigeria and is ranked first in ginger production.
According to the report, the state also has 4.5 million hectares of arable land out of which only 30 per cent is being utilised.
It stressed that inputs would be generated from all stakeholders including government ministries and agencies, to produce a document that would be investor friendly, so as to attract funds into the agriculture value chain in the state.
Victor Adejoh of Synergos Nigeria, an NGO, said the review would ensure active participation of women and youths in crop production, thereby addressing unemployment.
“The purpose of the plan is to contribute to sustainable food and nutritional security, increase the income of rural households and secure the state’s economic growth.”
According to him, the plan would also increase production, productivity and competitiveness in agriculture, with focus on client and consumer needs through building capacity of stakeholders.