The Kaduna State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen coordination among agricultural stakeholders, minimise duplication of interventions and improve the implementation of policies across the sector.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, disclosed this during a quarterly agricultural sector coordination meeting organised under the Policy and Agricultural Systems Strengthening (PASS) project in Kaduna.
The PASS project is supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), with Synergos providing technical assistance.
Represented by the Director of Veterinary Services, Pakachi Zakariya, Dabo said the coordination platform provides an opportunity for stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to review ongoing programmes, share updates and align their interventions with the priorities of the state government.
He explained that the platform would also help stakeholders better understand government programmes and identify opportunities for collaboration.
AGRA Programme Officer, Esther Ibrahim, said the initiative was contributing to improved policy coordination and stronger collaboration among agricultural stakeholders in Kaduna State.
She noted that participants reviewed activities implemented during the second quarter and presented plans for the third quarter. She added that the involvement of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics would further strengthen data-driven planning and decision-making.
Meanwhile, Synergos Country Director, Victor Adejor, described the platform as an important mechanism for developing and implementing effective agricultural policies.
He said the forum brings together farmers, government agencies, private-sector operators, seed companies, development partners, media organisations and other stakeholders to share ideas and coordinate activities.
According to Adejor, the participation of agriculture-related ministries, departments and agencies has also improved coordination across the sector.
He noted that the platform had contributed to the development of policies on areas such as contract farming and gender, while helping to address the duplication and fragmentation of agricultural interventions.
Adejor stressed that continued engagement among stakeholders would be essential to building a more coordinated, efficient and productive agricultural sector in Kaduna State.
