The Katsina State Government, through the Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), has launched a pilot agro-allied processing factory in Tashar Bala village, Batagarawa Local Government Area, aimed at boosting agribusiness investment and empowering smallholder farmers. The initiative includes an integrated out-grower scheme to connect local farmers directly to structured agricultural markets.
The project is part of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA), adopted by the state government to attract sustainable private sector participation while ensuring community inclusion and investor protection. The Executive Order formalising the framework underscores Katsina State’s commitment to responsible land governance and inclusive economic growth.
Speaking on Tuesday, KIPA Director-General Ibrahim Jikamshi explained that the pilot project would create employment opportunities, facilitate skills and technology transfer, and strengthen market access for farmers. “The Government of Katsina State has announced a pilot investment for the establishment of an agro-allied processing facility incorporating an integrated out-grower system,” he said. “This project will serve as a scalable model for sustainable agricultural investments across the state.”
The state government has also established a steering and technical committee to oversee the project’s implementation and a Grievance Redress Mechanism to promptly address community concerns. Capacity-building workshops with traditional leaders and stakeholders have been conducted to ensure effective management and responsible land governance.
The initiative builds on commitments made during the Katsina State Economic and Investment Summit, where TORQ Agro Allied disclosed a N3.5 billion investment for an ultra-modern poultry farm with hatchery facilities. TORQ Agro Allied has further committed $11 million for a soybeans aggregation, collection, and processing centre supported by an organised out-grower sourcing system aligned with the FRILIA framework.
Additionally, Al-Hikima Fertiliser and Chemicals Nigeria Limited is investing N1 billion in fertiliser, agro-chemical production, and seed multiplication, with plans to scale up to N5 billion in subsequent years.
Jikamshi highlighted that the investments are expected to improve input availability, boost agricultural productivity, and deepen value-chain development across Katsina State, providing economic opportunities for farmers, traders, and small businesses engaged in agriculture-related activities.
The pilot agro-allied processing factory signals a significant step toward leveraging private sector partnerships for inclusive agribusiness growth while empowering local farmers and strengthening the state’s agricultural ecosystem.
