The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme is rolling out a Matching Grant Facility in Kano State to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen value chains. Aminu A. Iliyasu, Kano's SAPZ Programme Coordinator, said the initiative is a federal government project supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), African Development Bank (AfDB) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The programme targets about 100,000 direct beneficiaries across Kano and Ogun states, with 50 per cent women, 40 per cent youths, and inclusion provisions for persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons. Iliyasu explained that the grants aim to boost access to inputs, modern technologies and markets for smallholder farmers, agro-processors, traders and service providers. Climate-resilient practices and value addition are also being promoted under the scheme.
Alhaji Bashir Sanusi, Permanent Secretary of Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the facility supports farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses to expand operations and improve competitiveness. He stressed transparency, citing a third-party verification system to ensure funds reach intended beneficiaries. Sanusi commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's administration for prioritising agriculture through increased investments and subsidised fertiliser distribution. Stakeholders, including farmers from 16 local government areas and verification officials, attended the meeting.
Aminu A. Iliyasu's emphasis on third-party verification suggests past failures in agricultural funding delivery, implying trust in the system remains low. With 100,000 beneficiaries targeted and half being women, the real test lies in whether the Matching Grant Facility bypasses middlemen and reaches smallholders as promised. If implementation mirrors previous federal agricultural schemes, many may see little change despite the high numbers touted.
