24/08/2026
IYWF 2026: SAPZ Honours 8 Kano Women Farmers for Innovation, Resilience and Leadership
By Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, SAPZ Kano State
The FGN/IFAD-Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Kano State has honoured eight outstanding women farmers, processors, agripreneurs and community leaders for their contributions to agricultural development, innovation, resilience, leadership and women’s empowerment as part of activities marking the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF).
The celebration, held at Amani Event Centre, Kano State, brought together women farmers, agricultural experts, government officials, development partners, farmer organizations and other stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of women and discuss opportunities for strengthening their role in the transformation of agrifood systems.
The SAPZ Programme is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Federal Government of Nigeria and participating state governments, with implementation focused on promoting agricultural productivity, value addition, agro-processing, job creation, food security and inclusive rural development.
In Kano State, the programme is being implemented across 16 participating Local Government Areas, including Bebeji, Bagwai, Kura, Gezawa, Garun Mallam, Bichi, Danbatta, Dawakin Kudu, Kumbotso, Tofa, Gwarzo, Madobi, Shanono, Minjibir, Gabasawa and Dawakin Tofa.
Recognising Women’s Contributions to Agrifood Systems
The award component of the celebration recognised women who have demonstrated outstanding performance in different areas of agriculture and agribusiness. The categories included Best Woman Agricultural Producer in Rice, Tomato and Groundnut; Youth Agripreneur Champion; Nutrition Champion; Climate-Smart Agriculture Champion; Digital Agriculture and Digital Services Champion; Women Farmer Organisation Leadership Champion; and Innovation and Technology Champion.
Speaking at the event, the Kano State SAPZ Programme Coordinator, Alhaji Aminu Iliyasu, described the celebration as an opportunity to recognise the resilience, dedication and achievements of women farmers.
He said women play indispensable roles across the agricultural value chain, from production and processing to value addition, marketing, agribusiness and household nutrition.
He, however, noted that many women still face barriers in accessing land, finance, improved technologies, quality inputs, markets, extension services and leadership opportunities.
He called on government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, farmer organisations and community leaders to increase investments in women-led agrifood enterprises and promote policies that enable women to participate meaningfully in agricultural development and decision-making.
Transparent Selection of Champions
The SAPZ Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, said the awardees were selected based on transparent criteria and evidence of achievement.
She explained that the selection considered innovation, leadership, impact, achievement and contribution to women’s empowerment.
According to her, the awardees would serve as role models whose experiences could inspire other women farmers, processors and entrepreneurs across Kano State and beyond.
She added that recognising women farmers under the IYWF 2026 provided an opportunity to document and share their experiences, strengthen learning and promote greater visibility for women’s contributions to the agrifood sector.
Experts Call for Greater Value Addition
Speaking during the high-level policy dialogue, Professor Sani Miko of Bayero University Kano and former Country Director of Sasakawa Global 2000, described the celebration as a significant milestone for Kano State, noting that it provided an opportunity to recognise women farmers under the UN-declared International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Professor Miko said bringing women farmers together under the SAPZ Programme had also provided an opportunity to identify some of the major challenges confronting them in production, productivity, value addition, marketing and other aspects of agricultural value chains.
He explained that agricultural experts had engaged the women on challenges affecting commodities including sesame, groundnut, rice and tomato, which he described as important opportunities for income generation and dignified employment for households.
He urged the women to focus more on value addition and product standardisation, particularly through appropriate regulatory certification.
Professor Miko encouraged women processors to register their products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), stressing that compliance with regulatory requirements would improve product quality, consumer confidence and access to wider markets.
Ministry Pledges Support to Women-Led Businesses
The Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Hajiya Halima Ibrahim Mukhtar, commended the women farmers for transforming agricultural produce into finished and packaged products.
She noted that women-led businesses have significant potential to contribute to the economic development of Kano State and assured the women of the ministry’s readiness to support small and medium-scale businesses.
The Permanent Secretary encouraged the beneficiaries to continue improving the quality, packaging and marketability of their products to enable them compete effectively in local and wider markets.
Beneficiaries Commend SAPZ Support
Some of the women beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the SAPZ Programme for the support received, saying the interventions had contributed to improvements in their farming, processing and agribusiness activities.
They noted that the support and capacity-building opportunities had strengthened their ability to engage in agricultural production and value addition while creating opportunities to improve household income.
The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 celebration in Kano therefore provided an important platform to recognise women’s achievements, amplify their voices, identify challenges affecting their participation in agrifood systems and strengthen collaboration among government, development partners, researchers, private-sector actors and farmer organisations towards building a more inclusive, resilient and productive agricultural sector.
