By Philip Yatai

The Kaduna State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), said on Tuesday that the 40th Edition of its International Trade Fair would focus on linking farmers with industrialists.

KADCCIMA’s Second Deputy President, Malam Suleiman Aliyu, who stated this in Kaduna, said that the move was to add value to agricultural production.

Aliyu, who is also the Chairman, Organising Committee of the fair, explained that too much emphasis has been placed on agricultural production with little attention to processing and marketing.

According to him, agricultural production, processing, marketing and all other value chain in the sector must be given due attention for the country to reap its huge potentials.

”We should not be asking people to go to the farm without proving the processing facilities that would add value to their production and market for them to make the needed profit.

”If we concentrate only on production without adding value through processing, the farmers are not likely going to benefit as they should.

”There is the need for value addition so that the farmers can make more money and the sector will be positioned to meet the needs of the people profitably.

”It is on this ground that this year’s edition is designed to focus on strengthening the link between farmers and industrialists for agricultural processing and value addition,” he said.

He stressed that the country must strengthen the relationship between farmers, producers, processors and marketers for the nation hope to gain much out of the agric sector.

He recalled that the 38th edition focused on promoting local entrepreneurs by attracting foreign investment through public/private partnership, while the 39th edition focused on promoting made in Nigeria products.

”So far we have achieved quite a lot in those areas in collaboration with the state and Federal Government and foreign investors.

”We are now shifting attention to agricultural sector to complement the state and the Federal Government efforts toward boosting the productivity of the sector for national development,” Aliyu added.

On his part, KADCCIMA Director-General, Alhaji Usman Saulawa, told NAN that about 70 foreign countries were expected at the trade fair scheduled to hold from 29 March to Sunday 7 April 2019.

Saulawa said that the fair with the theme,” Consolidating Interface between Industry and Agriculture for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development” was chosen to compliment the effort of government towards revamping the economy.

“The goal is to drive investments in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, services and technologies.”

The 10-day event would also feature quiz competition for secondary schools, business round table to promote agricultural financing and seminar to educate people on the focus of government in the sector.