Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has launched the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Empowerment Scheme, a N100 million initiative aimed at transforming agricultural practices among smallholder farmers across the state.

The flag-off ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, was in partnership with the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

While NEPAD allocated N63.75 million to fund the scheme, the state government allocated another N36.25 million as a counterpart fund for the program.

Governor Radda described the scheme as a milestone in Katsina’s journey toward inclusive agricultural development, emphasising the state’s commitment to moving farmers from subsistence to commercial production.

“This is not just a routine empowerment program—it is a deliberate investment in our people, in our economy, and in our future. We want our farmers to move from subsistence to commercial production using smarter, climate-resilient approaches,” Radda said.

The governor, however, called on extension workers and stakeholders to ensure proper utilisation of the materials and training provided under the program.

He said, “Our extension agents must follow up closely. Monitoring and evaluation will be key to assessing the real impact of this initiative. Let us work together to make sure these resources are not wasted.”

Speaking, the national coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD in Nigeria, Hon. Salisu Tsauri, described the Katsina launch as a strategic alignment between national priorities and continental agricultural goals.

Tsauri said, “This scheme is not just another intervention; it is a gateway to achieving Agenda 2063 of the African Union. We are bringing access to inputs, improved seeds, modern farming tools, and most importantly, knowledge and market linkages.”

On his part, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Maryam Sodangi, highlighted the long-term vision behind the initiative.

“This empowerment scheme reflects our commitment to building climate-resilient farming systems. It’s about laying the foundation for food security in the face of environmental changes,” Sodangi said.

The initiative is expected to provide farmers with access to improved seeds, modern farming tools, technical knowledge, and market linkages, directly enhancing food security and boosting incomes at the grassroots level.