Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, yesterday joined Vice President Kashim Shettima, northern governors, federal ministers, lawmakers, and international partners at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the signing of a $158 million Value Chain North (VCN) financing agreement.

The landmark initiative, co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Federal Government, aims to strengthen agricultural value chains across nine northern states, including Katsina.

Officials say the programme will boost food security, create thousands of jobs, and improve farmers’ access to markets and financing.

Governor Radda commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for making agriculture a central pillar of poverty reduction and economic empowerment policies. He further pledged Katsina State’s full commitment to ensuring the programme delivers lasting benefits, particularly for farmers, women, and youths.