Islamic Development Bank to partner FG on agriculture

ISLAMIC Development Bank (IsDB) will collaborate with the Federal Government on the use of special agricultural programmes to move Nigerians out of poverty.

The team leader of IsDB, Mr Javed Khan, stated this during the first supervision mission of the implementation of the special agro-industrial processing zone project in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to Khan, Nigeria has all it takes to solve poverty challenges confronting the people through agriculture.

Khan said the bank would bring its expertise and other logistics to ensure the success of the unique model.

He explained that Nigeria is the first place among member-countries where the project is set for implementation.

Khan noted that the project would train farmers on production and processing, up to the stage where the produce would be taken to markets.

He urged governments of states where the projects will be sited to give it required support to enable it to succeed.

In his remark, the Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who was represented by his Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Malam Abdullateef Alakawa, said his government had embarked on different agricultural programmes to improve food production.

He declared that the state government will collaborate with the bank and other stakeholders in transforming rural economies into viable and sustainable commercial hubs.

Earlier, the Project Coordinator, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), Dr Busari Isiaka, said the bank would ensure viability of the project in states where it is implemented.