Katsina State is prioritising agriculture and rural development.

Katsina State is preparing to roll out a major agricultural initiative as part of a broader development agenda, with the launch of a dedicated radio station for farmers taking centre stage

This key project was unveiled during the official visit of Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday.

The new radio station, tailored specifically for farmers, is aimed at providing vital agricultural information and real-time support to help improve productivity and decision-making on the farm.

Ahmed Bakori, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock, speaking on the development said, “The radio platform will allow farmers to communicate freely and receive expert guidance, complementing the services of extension workers and the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA).”

The initiative is part of the state’s wider efforts to modernise agriculture by enhancing access to farming inputs, equipment, and specialised training. The radio station will serve as a reliable channel for advice on pest control, crop management, livestock care, market access, and government farming programmes especially for smallholder farmers in rural areas who rely heavily on radio for information.

This move reflects Katsina’s strong focus on improving agricultural extension services and ensuring farmers receive up-to-date, localised support without the need to travel or wait for in-person visits.

In addition to the agricultural initiative, the Vice President will also commission a range of infrastructure projects during his visit. This includes a newly completed 3.3-kilometre road within Katsina metropolis, linking the Central Mosque to the WTC roundabout, built at a cost of US1.9bn. Alhaji Sani Magaji-Ingawa, Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transportation, confirmed the project’s completion ahead of the visit.

Also on the agenda is the formal opening of the 9th Expanded National MSMEs Clinic. Aisha Aminu, Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprises Development Agency (KASEDA), revealed that this initiative highlights the government’s ongoing push to support small businesses and promote economic inclusion.

With these developments, Katsina State is clearly prioritising agriculture and rural development, providing farmers with tools, training, and a voice to drive sustainable growth in the sector.

In a bid to strengthen food security and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

In a bid to strengthen food security and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has entered into a strategic partnership with Arzikin Noma, a leading agro-allied company in Nigeria

The collaboration is seen as a vital step towards transforming agriculture into a more resilient and sustainable sector across the country.

The partnership, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to bring together government, private investors, and development partners to address core agricultural challenges. It places smallholder farmers at the heart of Nigeria’s long-term food security plans.

Michael Adeshola, Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma, confirmed that the first phase of the project will focus on farmland development in Ora, before expanding to 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The initiative is a key step toward achieving food sovereignty in the country and eradicating hunger,” he said.

Arzikin Noma operates in several crop value chains, including maize, millet, sorghum, soya, sesame, cowpea, and rice. The firm currently partners with over 500,000 farmers across states such as Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Katsina, Oyo, and Kwara.

According to Adeshola, the company supports these farmers by offering access to agricultural finance, expert knowledge, and climate-smart techniques. “The company ensures guaranteed markets for quality crops that meet both local and export standards,” he added.

The firm has also built strong ties with major buyers including Nestlé, Cadbury, Olam Hybrid, and the World Food Programme, all of whom rely on locally sourced raw materials. The partnership reflects a commitment to home-grown solutions for food production.

Adeshola stressed the importance of empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups through agricultural opportunities. He also commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to involve the younger generation in farming, calling it a “key development for the nation.”

Under NALDA’s leadership, plans are underway to unlock 10 million hectares of farmland within the next 10 years. Adeshola pointed out that agriculture employs around 65% of Nigerians, and stressed the need to treat food security as an emergency if the country hopes to achieve lasting food independence.

The new system aims to connect Kenyan coffee farmers directly with buyers both locally and internationally.

In a decisive move to reform its coffee sector, Kenya is preparing to roll out its first digital platform for trading agricultural produce

The new system, designed as an online auction, aims to connect Kenyan coffee farmers directly with buyers both locally and internationally eliminating the need for middlemen and breaking the grip of cartels that have historically dominated the market.

Mutahi Kagwe, agriculture and livestock development cabinet secretary, made it clear that the government is determined to end long-standing market manipulation. He stated, “Marketing cannot be done the same way year after year and expect different results it’s madness.” Kagwe added that transitioning the auction process online will give global buyers direct access, increasing transparency and reducing the influence of intermediaries.

The pilot phase of the initiative will be launched through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, a key player in the country’s coffee trade. The shift to digital trading is intended to open up Kenya’s coffee market to broader global competition and restore trust among international buyers. Kagwe highlighted that this modernisation could reinvigorate a sector whose earnings have dropped sharply  from a peak of US$100bn to just US$40bn last year. He cited low yields, poor management, and exploitative intermediaries as major factors behind the decline.

To tackle these challenges, the government is rolling out a robust revival programme that includes increasing coffee acreage, improving productivity, and deploying agricultural extension officers. The goal is to increase per-tree yields from 3 kg to 30 kg, drastically enhancing output at the farm level.

Wycliffe Oparanya, cabinet secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, revealed plans to triple Kenya’s coffee production from 50,000 metric tonnes to 150,000 metric tonnes within three years. Already, 22 counties are participating in the programme, and 1,176 cooperative factories are being upgraded to process coffee more efficiently.

Ensuring that farmers benefit directly from their labour is also a priority. Through the new Direct Settlement System (DSS), operated by Cooperative Bank, 80% of coffee sales revenue now goes straight to farmers. Over 200 cooperatives have already been enrolled in the scheme.

At the international level, Kagwe announced that Kenya will present proposals at the World Food Forum in Rome, calling for more autonomy and fairer trade terms for African coffee producers. With its digital auction platform and sector-wide reforms, Kenya is aiming to build a transparent, farmer-first coffee industry that rewards productivity and integrity.

This initiative targets the sorghum value chain, a vital component of climate-resilient agriculture in the country.

In a strategic move to strengthen Zimbabwe’s food systems and improve smallholder livelihoods, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), alongside the Government of Zimbabwe and private sector collaborators, has launched the pilot phase of the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission Pillar 3 (FARM P3)

This initiative targets the sorghum value chain, a vital component of climate-resilient agriculture in the country.

Sorghum is one of Zimbabwe’s most dependable crops in drought-prone regions. However, many small-scale farmers struggle to maximise its potential due to labour-intensive processing methods, post-harvest losses of up to 30%, and limited access to consistent markets. These barriers often result in reduced profitability and poor-quality outputs that don’t meet buyer requirements.

“Sorghum could be central to building Zimbabwe’s climate resilience, but it remains underutilised. By engaging private-sector partners from the start, the FARM P3 pilot opens a pathway to overcome these challenges and spread benefits across the country, supporting small-scale farmers to become more productive and more prosperous,” said Alex Nyakatsapa, the senior value chain and agribusiness advisor of SACP.

The FARM P3 pilot introduces mobile threshing and other smart mechanisation tools to smallholder farming communities. These innovations aim to cut losses, improve harvest efficiency, and connect farmers with formal markets and processors. The approach also includes the promotion of youth-led service enterprises and robust public-private partnerships to deliver sustainable results.

Over the course of 12 months, the project is expected to work with around 6,000 smallholder farmers across key sorghum-growing areas and support 50 service providers, including young entrepreneurs and progressive farmers. These providers will receive mentorship to develop business models, access funding, and become part of structured value chains. Importantly, the pilot does not deliver the services directly, but instead creates the necessary environment for these services to flourish independently.

“Through FARM P3 we not only test equipment that raises smallholder incomes in Zimbabwe, but also work with buyers, financial institutions, youth entrepreneurs and farmers to build business models that create jobs and make mechanization affordable, profitable, and sustainable,” said Francesco Rispoli, IFAD country director.

With climate change placing increasing pressure on African agriculture, initiatives like FARM P3 offer a timely, scalable solution to both food insecurity and rural poverty.