Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf has highlighted Kano’s significant strides in agricultural development at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda, reaffirming the state’s commitment to sustainable agricultural initiatives.
Speaking at a side event organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and partners, Governor Yusuf emphasized the importance of implementing climate-smart actions and fostering partnerships with the private sector to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of Kano’s agricultural sector.
Represented by the Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, Governor Yusuf lauded the collaborative efforts of organizations, particularly the Sasakawa Africa Association, in advancing food security and promoting agricultural transformation in Kano and Nigeria at large.
He highlighted the pivotal role of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), an initiative of the state government with funding support from the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Funds.
Governor Yusuf stated “the KSADP funded by the Islamic Development Bank and Lives and Livelihoods Fundshas achieved massive gains. The efforts align with ourgovernment’s agricultural development agenda and feed into our blueprint to reach smallholder farmers. We are opening new frontiers in agriculture and sustainability, and we are engaging the private sector.”
Recognizing the vital role of the private sector in fostering agricultural growth, Governor Yusuf stressed the state’s dedication to expanding opportunities for agricultural development and engaging private enterprises in climate mitigation initiatives.
He commended the Sasakawa Africa Association for its support in crop protection and production, noting significant yield increases in rice, millet, sorghum, and maize due to the adoption of advanced technologies and climate-smart agricultural practices by Kano’s farmers.
The governor further hailed the Sasakawa Africa Association for its efforts in strengthening the state crop value chain, describing it as a valuable partner in crop protection and production.
“Efforts are paying off. In Kano state, we’ve seen yield increases in rice, millet, sorghum and maize, and our farmers are adopting new technologies and climate-smart agricultural practices.” He explained.
Dr. Makoto Kitanaka, President of the Sasakawa Africa Association, expressed optimism in his welcome remarks and encouraged partnersto use the discussions as an opportunity to review approaches and channel investments for greater impact.
Dr Godwin Atser, Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, also spoke, underscoring the impact of the KSADP and emphasizing the crucial role of agriculture in addressing rural poverty. Dr Atser highlighted the need for sustainable agricultural transformation to alleviate poverty, noting that substantial progress in the agricultural sector could have a transformative impact on poverty reduction while mitigating climate change.
Dr Atser lamented “Sadly, Nigerian farmers are back where Indian farmers were in the early 1970s. Low productivity is a major cause of rural poverty. We need to grow the agricultural sector to have a transformational impact on tackling poverty.
Agriculture contributes 20—30 per cent of the GDP of several countries in Africa. So, if we achieve agricultural transformation as a country, 50% of our problems will be gone.”
Dr Atser reiterated the commitment of the Sasakawa Africa Association, supported by the Nippon Foundation, to assist the government’s efforts in achieving food, nutrition, and income security for smallholder farmers in Nigeria by promoting climate-smart technologies and the adoption of regenerative, market-oriented and nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices.
The side event, themed “Food systems transformation: Emerging insights from mega initiatives,” convened key stakeholders and leaders of organizations working towards food system transformation in Africa.
Participants included representatives from The Sasakawa Africa Association headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and its Strategic partnership office in Ethiopia, as well as country offices in Uganda, Mali, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Other participating organizations include The Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), The Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II), AGRA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Islamic Development Bank, and African Development Bank.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then