Closer collaboration among all stakeholders and regional integration are key ingredients for the expansion and sustenance of agricultural activities in the North-West geo-political zone of the country, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has said.

Speaking during a high level meeting of the governors of the region on agriculture action plan in Kaduna State yesterday, Tambuwal said working together will ensure access to finance and improvement of infrastructure that will support the sector.

The meeting, coordinated by the Usman Bugaje-led Arewa Research and Development Project, ARDP, had presentations from Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; Bank of Industry, BoI; Bank of Agriculture; Sassakawa Global 2000 and the Nigerian Export and Import Bank.

Tambuwal said the North-West had competitive advantage in key areas and will seek to exploit it for the development of the region and its people.

The governor said: “In Sokoto, we have advantage with cash crops like wheat, rice, tomato and onions. Others have such advantages with crops like ginger, cotton, maize and other cereal crops.

“So when we tap all these resources, pool investment and promote avenues of access to finance, the sector will be transformed and its real value will come to the fore.”

Other governors at the meeting were Aminu Masari, Katsina; Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Abubakar Badaru, Jigawa; Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano; the host, Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna, and the Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Ibrahim Wakkala.

Their commissioners of agric, permanent secretaries and directors of agricultural services also attended.