The International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Special Agro‑Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) has launched a Targeted Nutrition Support Programme in Kano State, Nigeria. From 3 to 6 October 2025, the initiative provided home‑gardening toolkits to 1,445 households across eight local government areas (LGAs): Kura, Garun‑Mallam, Bebeji, Dambatta, Gezawa, Dawakin‑Tofa, Bichi and Bagwai. In each LGA, 180 women were selected as direct beneficiaries, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 1,440.
The programme aims to empower households—especially women and vulnerable groups—to grow nutrient‑rich vegetables and crops at home, thereby reducing micronutrient deficiencies among children, pregnant women and other at‑risk populations. SAPZ State Project Coordinator Aminu Iliyasu explained that the initiative removes barriers for households with little or no farming experience, enabling full participation in food production.
Long‑term objectives include improving household self‑sufficiency, stimulating local economies through the purchase of gardening inputs, and fostering community‑driven, nutrition‑sensitive agricultural interventions. Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, praised the programme as a bold step toward transforming agriculture into an engine of empowerment and inclusive growth. He highlighted its alignment with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s agricultural agenda, which encompasses livestock empowerment for women and youth, mechanisation of farming, and the recruitment of extension workers.
The SAPZ programme forms part of a broader effort to promote agricultural development and improve nutrition in Kano State. By focusing on women and youth, it seeks to lay the foundation for stronger households and healthier futures. Its impact on beneficiaries will be closely monitored in the coming months, and as the programme expands, it is expected to contribute significantly to the government’s vision of agriculture as a pathway to dignity, empowerment and shared prosperity.
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