Kano Hosts Inception Meeting On Markets4fruggies Project To Boost Fruit And Vegetable Access
The Kano State Government has reiterated its commitment to improving food and nutrition security through stronger agricultural market systems, as the State hosts the inception meeting of the Market Innovations for Fruit and Vegetable Access in Nigeria (Markets4Fruggies) Project.
Declaring the meeting open, the Honourable Commissioner for Planning and Budget, ably represented by Abdul Ajumawa the Director, Development Support Coordination and also Chairman, Kano State Committee on Food and Nutrition, highlighted that the importance of fruits and vegetables to human health, nutrition and overall well-being cannot be overemphasised.
He noted that for Kano State, the Markets4Fruggies Project is not simply another development project, but presents an important opportunity to contribute to the transformation of the State’s food system while strengthening the economic and nutritional well-being of its citizens.
He stressed the need for stakeholders to take advantage of the initiative to identify practical and sustainable solutions to challenges affecting the production, distribution, affordability, accessibility and consumption of fruits and vegetables across the State.
The two-day inception meeting, holding on 24th and 25th August 2026, brings together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Kano State Government, Local Government Areas, academia, civil society organisations, development partners, market actors and other key stakeholders to deliberate on innovative approaches to improving access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables.
In his goodwill message the Director of Food and Nutrition Department,
Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Dr. Clementina Okoro, who represented by
by the Task Team Secretariat for Food System Transformation, Olushila Mshelia, reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to fostering inter-agency collaboration and ensuring that fiscal policies are effectively leveraged to achieve sustainable food systems.
The meeting is aimed at introducing the Markets4Fruggies project to State and LGA stakeholders, explaining its objectives and proposed implementation approach, identifying existing opportunities and constraints within Kano’s agricultural market system and exploring ways of aligning the project with existing government policies, programmes and structures.
Speaking during the meeting, Professor Folake Samuel of the University of Ibadan, who presented an overview of the Markets4Fruggies project, highlighted the critical role of markets in determining what food is available, accessible and affordable to consumers.
According to her, “markets are not only places where food is bought and sold; they are important drivers of dietary choices and nutrition outcomes.” She therefore called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, market actors, researchers and development partners to create a food market environment that makes nutritious foods more available and affordable.
The meeting also examined the alignment of the Markets4Fruggies project with Federal and Kano State Government priorities, while technical sessions focused on the role of markets in shaping diets and an overview of Kano State’s agricultural market systems, key market actors and their respective roles across the State and its 44 Local Government Areas.
The State’s agricultural market system provides an important platform for advancing food and nutrition security, particularly given Kano’s significant role in agricultural production and trade. Stakeholders at the meeting are expected to identify opportunities for strengthening linkages between farmers, markets, consumers and government programmes.
The Kano State Government welcomed the project and expressed its readiness to work with the Federal Government, the University of Ibadan, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the initiative complements existing State policies and programmes in agriculture, food and nutrition.
Signed by:
Halima Ahmad Ishaq
Director Special Assignment
Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs.
For more information about Alfijir Labarai call this number+2348032077835
About others Alfijir labarai/Alfijir news program follow here 👇
https://twitter.com/Musabestseller?s=09
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089640289165
https://www.threads.net/@alfijirlabarai
https://www.youtube.com/@BestsellerChannel12
https://www.instagram.com/musa_bestseller?utm_source=qr&r=nametag
Alfijir labarai Alfijir News Whatsapp Group 👇👇
https://chat.whatsapp.com/H5oBRaZBdCVIyOTIV5eMfb?mode=ac_t