The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project and Sasakawa Africa Association (KSADP/SAA) Project has generated over N1.28 billion for farmers who were directly engaged in the project.
The project, with the objective of reducing poverty, strengthening food and nutrition security in the state is being implemented through 3 pillars, including regenerative agriculture, market oriented agriculture and nutrition sensitive agriculture.
Abdurasheed Kofarmata, the project coordinator for KSADP, who addressed the press during 2023 media field day in Kano, explained that the project is a 5-year program which focuses on improving crop production and enhancing livestock productivity in the state.
According to him, the overall objective of the KSADP is to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in the state by developing agro pastoral production systems (production, processing, and retailing).
The project is funded by the Islamic Development Bank, (IsDB), the Lives and Livelihood Funds, (LLF) and the government of Kano state, through the Kano State Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA).
Speaking on the impact of the project, Kofarmata said that so far in 2023, the project has facilitated over N1.28 billion revenues for participating farmers in the state.
A breakdown of revenues include: input linkages for farmers worth N240,638,310, output linkages for farmers worth N789,437,568, community savings by farmers which amounted to N36,876,686 and access to finance facilitated for farmers which was N219,736,259 in the period.
He said that a total of 100 agro-input stockists were trained on product knowledge, safety rules and enterprise management and empowered with branded metal kiosks and support packs.
“A seed and inputs fair was conducted in collaboration with ICRISAT where 2,428 farmers across the 44 LGAs gained access to quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, composite flour, animal feed, at affordable prices from genuine sources, this is extremely important for successful farming business
“200 (116 males & 84 females) youths were trained on agribusiness entrepreneurship in collaboration with ICRISAT.
“440 (330 males & 110 females) youths were trained on private spray service and enterprise management and empowered with set of sprayers and PPEs
“Under the regenerative agriculture pillar, we conducted community entry and sensitization program as well as preseason training for for Cereals and vegetable production, and step downed to 366,000 farmers in 44 LGAs.
Godwin Atser, the Country Director, SAA said that the KSADP presents a platform for Kano state to boost agricultural production.
According to him, the project has trained over 2,000 extension workers and 5 million small holder farmers in the state.
“Agriculture is here with us in Kano state and the government has succeeded in addressing food security through this partnership.
“At Sasakawa Africa Association, we have been able to respond to the shocks occasioned by climate change and we see a strong impact of what we are doing in regenerative agriculture by providing improved seeds to farmers.
According to Ibrahim Garba, the State Project Coordinator of the KSADP, the project is targeted at reaching 450,000 farmers directly in 44 local governments in the state across eight crops value chains.
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