AFEX, Kano State APPEALS to boost farmers’ productivity, market access

BY ONOME AMUGE

AFEX, Africa’s fastest growing commodities player, has initiated a partnership with the Kano State government to facilitate the Kano Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project.

According to a statement made available to Business A.M., the partnership, announced recently at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in Kano, will help in fulfilling the goal of the Kano State government and the federal government on enhancing food security and export promotion.

AFEX will scale up its warehouse receipt system around APPEALS project aggregation centres, under this arrangement, while also enabling the APPEALS project supported beneficiaries in the state with access to credit, quality inputs (seeds and fertiliser) and market opportunities.

The Nigerian first private sector commodities exchange also disclosed its commitment to develop and put in place a functional market information platform for the APPEALS project, while strengthening the cooperative structures in the state through community support.

Ayodeji Balogun, chief executive officer, AFEX, said the company is delighted in playing a significant role towards facilitating the project.

The APPEALS project, he explained, is aimed at improving farmers income and livelihoods which is one of AFEX’s core goals.

Balogun also noted that Nigeria’s agriculture sector is harmed by a combination of financial and infrastructure inadequacies, adding that AFEX aims at solving the challenges through its innovative solutions.

“Limited financing and market access has an effect on the value chain from a demand and supply standpoint. Partnering with an initiative like APPEALS allows us to contribute once again to driving the positive changes that we need as a country.

“We are on a mission to increase the productivity and livelihoods of farmers in Kano State,” Balogun stated.
Hassan Ibrahim, the APPEALS project coordinator, in his remark, stated that the project will leverage the vast experience of AFEX.

AFEX would help create an automatic and reliable market where the farmers would sell their agricultural products without hindrance, in line with the target of the state government for sustainable agricultural development, Ibrahim further stated.