Building efficient supply chains in Nigeria
Women groups exhibiting their products. Photo: TA Azeez, ICRISAT
Building efficiencies across the supply chain, from input supply to marketing, is key to achieving success. To this end a first of its kind ‘Agricultural Inputs Fair’, was organized in Kano, Nigeria. The aim was to provide farmers with good quality inputs (improved seed varieties, agro chemicals and equipment), at affordable prices from genuine sources, and link them to agricultural extension services.
At the fair, nearly 70% (4,500 kg) of assorted improved varieties of seeds brought to the fair by different seed companies were sold to farmers, amounting to NGN 903,600 (US$3,204).
The three-day programme was attended by around 1,800 farmers of which 484 were women. This overwhelming response has enthused the organizers to hold such input fairs on an annual basis to provide the necessary platform for interaction with farmers and agricultural inputs companies for higher productivity and income to farmers.
Invitees to the opening ceremony included Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Executive Governor of Kano State, and Prof Hafiz Abubakar, Deputy Executive Governor of Kano State;Dr Muhammad Sanusi II CON, Emir of Kano represented by Hakimin Kura, Alhaji Bello Ado Bayero; Nasiru Gawuna, Hon. Commissioner of Agriculture; Ahmad Rabi’u Bako,Hon. Commissioner of Natural Resources, Commerce & Industry and Murtala Sule Garo, Hon. Commissioner of Ministry for Local Government Affairs.
Under the auspices of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase 1 (ATASP-1) and USAID Groundnut Upscaling Project, ICRISAT Nigeria in partnership with Fadama Development project Additional Finance (Fadama III AF), organized the agricultural inputs fair, hosted at Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority premises Kura, Kura LGA, Kano State from 26 to 28 May.
