The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme in Kano State has extended its community engagement and awareness campaign to eight additional Local Government Areas to create more awareness about opportunities within the initiative.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer of SAPZ Kano, Hajiya Rabi Mustafa Sadiq, the new outreach is aimed at educating farmers, traders, women, youths, and other agro-value chain actors.

The campaign now covers Dawakin Kudu, Kumbotso, Tofa, Gwarzo, Madobi, Shanono, Minjibir, and Gabasawa LGAs.

SAPZ is a large-scale agro-industrial initiative being implemented by the Federal Government in partnership with development partners, including the African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Islamic Development Bank, participating state governments, and private investors. The programme is currently running in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, including Kano, Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun.

The initiative is designed to boost agricultural processing, attract private investment, improve food security, create jobs, reduce rural poverty, and increase agriculture’s contribution to the economy.

According to the statement, SAPZ aims to develop high-production agricultural zones that can supply both local and export markets, while also empowering smallholder farmers, processors, traders, women, and youths.

So far, the programme is expected to benefit about 1.5 million households nationwide, with women making up half of the beneficiaries and young people accounting for about 40 percent.

In Kano and Ogun States alone, about 75,000 people are expected to benefit directly from the programme.

The statement also revealed that SAPZ Kano profiled over 15,000 smallholder farmers across eight LGAs in 2025 and supported more than 12,000 farmers with climate-smart agricultural inputs for rice, tomato, and groundnut production.

Under the support scheme, beneficiaries contribute a portion of the cost depending on category, while the programme covers the majority through matching grants.

SAPZ Kano has also created a Multi-Stakeholder Agribusiness Forum to strengthen collaboration between farmers, processors, financial institutions, and government agencies to improve value chain development.

Officials say the ongoing sensitisation campaign is aimed at ensuring that more rural communities understand and participate in the programme, which is expected to transform agriculture into a more profitable and sustainable sector in the state.