В Кано создан ежеквартальный форум для обратной связи по программе агропромышленных зон

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Kano State has established a quarterly feedback forum to provide beneficiaries and other stakeholders with a regular platform to share their experiences, raise concerns and suggest solutions to challenges affecting the implementation of the programme. The inaugural forum was held at Amani Events Centre yesterday in Kano, where the State Programme Coordinator, Alhaji Aminu Iliyasu, welcomed farmers, agro-processors, traders, women, youth, development partners, implementing institutions, journalists and other stakeholders to the event. Iliyasu said the forum was designed to strengthen communication, accountability, participation and collaboration between SAPZ and its beneficiaries, stressing that beneficiaries should be regarded as partners in the implementation of the programme rather than mere recipients of support. According to him, the forum would enable the State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU) to listen directly to beneficiaries, document their concerns, clarify processes and use the feedback to improve planning and service delivery. He added that issues relating to inputs, training, infrastructure, market access and communication could be brought before the forum for consideration. “The forum gives the State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU) the opportunity to listen directly to beneficiaries, clarify processes, document concerns and use feedback to improve planning and delivery,” he said. In her remarks, the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Hajiya Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, said the forum would promote inclusive participation, particularly among women, youths, persons with special needs and other vulnerable groups. She added that it would also improve communication between SAPZ, beneficiaries and participating communities. Sadiq said the forum would help identify emerging challenges at community level, facilitate timely referral and resolution of complaints and grievances, and strengthen transparency and accountability in the delivery of SAPZ interventions. She urged participants to go beyond identifying problems by contributing practical and workable solutions. During the event, participants were briefed on the criteria for selecting members of the Kano State SAPZ Feedback Forum. Representatives were subsequently elected by the participants, after which the terms of reference were presented to the elected members and the forum was formally inaugurated by the State Programme Coordinator. The forum concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private-sector actors, farmer organisations, the media and beneficiaries. Participants also discussed the many achievements recorded by SAPZ Kano, implementation challenges and ways of improving programme delivery, while mechanisms for submitting complaints and feedback were established to support effective and transparent implementation.