Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disclosed that there was the need for investors in the state’s agricultural sector to draw blueprints showcasing the proper and feasible channel to exploit its vast – though untapped – agricultural resources in order to achieve food security, poverty mitigation and industrialization.
Governor Ganduje, who gave the charge while receiving a joint delegation from Dantata Foods Nigeria Ltd. and Thomas Agriculture, UK, led by Alhaji Tajuddeen Dantata at the Kano State Government House, said that his administration was willing to assist in implementing realistic proposals in the agricultural sector considering its importance.
He pointed out that Kano boasts of huge population, abundant water and agricultural potentials, adding that his administration is willing to provide an enabling environment for investors to fully develop these potentials for common good.
“We have the potentials and with the efforts of the Federal government to tackle insecurity, investors now have nothing to fear in terms of security.
For instance, now that you are proposing to construct a modern abattoir, this will provide raw materials to our leather tanneries since we have the biggest tanneries in West Africa”, Ganduje said.
He hinted that the state government was mobilizing farmers to form cooperative societies, in order to create a platform for them to produce and sell their products at competitive rates as well as provide them with access to extension services from prospective investors for enhanced productivity.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Tajuddeen Dantata, said their consortium intended to invest in the agriculture value chain in Kano, especially in poultry and meat production in view of the increasing demand for beef and chicken by fast food companies.
Dantata said they were also looking into the perishable products market for local consumption and export, while solicitating the support of the state government in terms of land with access to water, which will enable them settle down for business.
Mr. Richard Thomas from Thomas Agriculture UK explained that they would focus on large integrated agriculture in order to reduce the deficit between production and consumption.