The Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, says it is ready to support Nigeria to address its development challenges.

Mr. Javed Khan, who headed a Mission from the Abuja Hub of the bank to Kano, stated this during meetings with officials of the Project Management Unit of Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP and the Managing Director of Kano state agricultural agency, KNARDA, in his office in Kano.

“Nigeria is a very important member of the IsDB and in line with its objective of fostering economic development and social progress, the bank will continue to support the country to drive development and ensure prosperity of its citizens”.

“Presently, the bank is financing projects in Nigeria such as the KSADP, SAPZ, Food Security programme, the Bilingual Education project, SMART AID and some infrastructure projects and more will come based on the success of these projects”, he added.

Mr. Khan said the mission to Kano was to assess the status of on-going projects by the KSADP, how to complete remaining activities of the project, how much funds were utilized and how to make use of unspent funds in areas of need.

“This year is very important for the project as it is coming to an end therefore, the issue of sustainability of the project interventions is a key aspect we are looking at”, he affirmed.

The Mission visited on-going infrastructure development at Dawanau International Grains market, and completed projects including Tomato drying facility at Gafan, Kadawa Cikin Gari Groundnut Processors, and Artificial Insemination Centre in Garun Mallam local government, Women Rice Processors at Fegi, Onion Storage facility and Slaughter House in Kura local government.

Meanwhile, the Mission engaged officials of Sasakawa Africa Association and Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, KNARDA, who are implementing the crops and legumes value chains of the KSADP respectively, on the prospects of fully achieving the project objectives by the end of the year.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

KSADP

2^nd  February, 2024

Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, funded by the Islamic development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund, LLF, has awarded contracts worth the sum of N3, 962, 457, 126. 12, for construction of 60 Milk Collection Centers across Kano State.

The contracts, in four lots, were awarded to four indigenous companies with a completion period of 12 months for each project.

Each Milk Collection Center will have a borehole equipped with a solar-powered pump and a 20,000-litre overhead tank; an inputs (feed, drugs) store managed by a community appointee and up to 10 fodder banks in its environs.

In addition, every MCC will have a 250-litre tank cooled by solar power and a milk testing bench with appropriate reagents/equipment as well as provision of milk collection cans.

Shortly after awarding the contracts, supervised by the Kano State Ministry of Justice, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, stated that “the investment is unprecedented in Nigeria and will bridge the gap between pastoralists and the dairy industry”.

“One of the major problems of the dairy industry is supply inadequacy and poor quality of the milk. This MCC project therefore, aims to ensure provision of quality and safe milk, by putting in place a cold chain. This will guarantee regular sales and income for the pastoralists”, he stated.

Malam Ibrahim charged the companies awarded the contracts to execute durable projects within the agreed time frame, to justify the confidence reposed in them.

It could be recalled that in September, 2022, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project awarded contract for construction of 40 Milk Collection Centers in Kano, as part of moves to take maximum advantage of the state’s huge dairy potential.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

8^th January, 2024

The State project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, has advised the government of Jigawa state to put in place a quality management system for its Islamic Development Bank funded project for best results.

“Donors have guidelines to monitor their funds and they rely largely on operational efficiency of the Project Management Unit to monitor their funds”.

The Project Coordinator gave the recommendation while receiving a delegation from Jigawa state, led by the Special Adviser to the state governor on Cluster Farming, Alhaji Muhammad Idris Danzomo, who visited the KSADP office in Kano.

He further advised the state government to rethink the option of having the Managing Director of the state Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, JARDA, doubling as the State Coordinator of the Jigawa Integrated and Rural Development Project, pointing out that combining the two roles may be inconsistent with the donor’s policies.

Malam Ibrahim said from the onset the KSADP, funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF, streamlined its operations, working closely with IITA, ICRISAT and SAA as technical partners, to achieve optimally.

“It is now in its third year of implementation and it has invested handsomely in sustainable development of selected livestock and crop value chains in Kano, with very good results”.

The Special Adviser to the governor of Jigawa state on Cluster Farming, Muhammad Idris Danzomo said the engagement was basically to learn from the experience of the KSADP, its management structure, challenges and success stories, so that Jigawa state can replicate.

“From the interaction, I can see you have capable hands and that might be some of the reason why you are moving forward. The Jigawa project and your own were signed at the same time but the IsDB could not make the Jigawa project disbursement effective until we get capable hands”, he stated.

The Special Adviser thanked the KSADP Project Management Unit for receiving his delegation cordially and for the openness in interaction, stressing that the team was so impressed with the reception accorded and would report the gesture to the Jigawa state governor.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director, Jigawa State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, JARDA, Malam Imam Muhammad, who is also the State Coordinator of the Jigawa Integrated and Rural Development Project, funded by the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, said feasibility study has been conducted for the project, hence the need to study the KSADP model in order to succeed.

“The Islamic Development Bank asked us to come and learn from you and we are paying attention to procurement, monitoring and evaluation and finance so that we can be on the right track”.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

KSADP

The governor of Kano State, North west Nigeria, Abba Kabir Yusuf flagged off the construction 70 kilometre rural access roads in the state, under the Nigeria IsDB/LLF project, Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP,

The project is constructing the roads to link several communities in different parts of the state, at the cost of NGN 9.97 billion, to facilitate economic activities including movement of people, commodities and livestock to and from farmlands, markets as well as towns across the state.

The governor flagged of the construction work with two road projects, with a combined length of 14.73 kilometers, at Mil Goma – Yankatsare and Rigiyar Gwangwan, in Dawakin Kudu local government area, with a completion period of 12 months each.

During the well attended ceremony, Governor Abba Yusuf said his administration is determined to put in place viable projects that would enhance the quality of lives of rural dwellers.

The governor explained that the road projects embarked upon in collaboration with the development partners, IsDB and LLF, cut across the three senatorial zones of the state with the aim of enhancing agricultural and rural development.

“As we promised to work with all our friends, including the development partners, this day marks the fruition of another effort between these partners and Kano state government, to resolve some of the nail-biting problems facing the state”, he stated.

“It is my sincere hope and prayers that these projects will bring progress, happiness and overall development of these chosen localities”, the governor remarked.

Governor Abba expressed appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund for supporting the state to achieve major milestones in rural and agricultural transformation, hoping the partnership will continue to wax stronger.

KSADP, now in its third year of implementation has been instrumental in transforming the lives of thousands of beneficiaries through a series of impactful initiatives. With a core mission to alleviate poverty by 30 percent and strengthen food and nutrition security, KSADP aims to achieve a significant 50 percent reduction in the number of individuals affected by chronic food shortages.

This ambitious endeavor directly impacts an impressive 1, 260, 000 beneficiaries across Kano state, focusing on sustainable development of selected livestock and crop value chains. The project’s scope extends to smallholder farmers actively engaged in chosen agricultural value chains, as well as other key stakeholders as input suppliers, service providers, processors, marketers, and traders.

By fostering collaboration and driving innovation within the agricultural sector, KSADP is making substantial strides towards fostering economic development and resilience within Kano state.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

KSADP

Kano State Governor, Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf has granted approval to Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, for the development of irrigation infrastructure at Kafin Chiri dam in Garko local government area of the state, at the cost of N2.5 billion.

“The initiative aims to boost agricultural production in the area and create more jobs for the teeming youths”, according to the State Project Coordinator of the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF, funded project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad.

Malam Ibrahim told farmers during a pre-project stakeholder’s engagement at Garko local government secretariat that 419 hectares of land will be developed in the area to enable the farmers engage in both dry season and rain fed agriculture.

“Initially, our plan was to develop additional 1, 000 hectares of land at the Watari Irrigation project. But shortly after the commencement of the work, we discovered that the Federal Government had awarded a similar contract in the vicinity, which extends to a portion of our designated area of work”.

“Therefore, we obtained approval for the Islamic Development Bank to use part of the funds saved from the Watari project, to develop 419 hectares elsewhere and the state governor gave us the go-ahead to develop agricultural land in the vicinity of Kafin Chiri dam”, he added.

The Project Coordinator explained that the engagement with the farmers was to highlight the merit of the project, to keep them informed about the enumeration exercise and to seek their input ahead of the actual project commencement.

He promised that all affected farm owners in the area would be enumerated emphasizing that no farmer would be shortchanged when the work is completed.  He appealed for their cooperation to make sure that the project succeeds.

Earlier, the KSAPD Project Engineer, Zahraddeen Hamisu Zarewa, who summarized the project specifications, clarified that the proposal for Kafin Chiri is for a gravity fed irrigation system where water will be conveyed from the dam and distributed to farms through a network of canals using gravity.

“This means that you will no longer buy fuel to use in water pumps therefore, you will save a lot of money”, he maintained, adding that the value of their farms will appreciate significantly when the project is completed.

In his remarks, the chairman of Garko local government area, Alhaji Gambo Isa Garko promised that the local authorities, community and religious leaders would work together with the KSADP to make the project a reality.

Speaking separately, a cross section of community, farmers and youth leaders in the area expressed happiness over the project, pledging necessary support.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

KSADP

Gwale Veterinary Reference Laboratory in Kano state will soon launch collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, to achieve the concept of One Health.

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, explained that the institutions would collaborate to achieve better public health outcomes.

The KSADP Coordinator disclosed this during the launch of mop up of annual Contagious Bovine Pleuropnuemonia, CBPP and Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR, livestock vaccination campaign at Kwanar Gurjiya, Dawakin Kudu local government area of Kano state.

Funded by the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF, and the government of Kano state, Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, constructed the Gwale Veterinary Reference Laboratory and funds annual livestock vaccination to promote animal and human health in Nigeria’s most populous state.

“In the past three years, we have vaccinated over three million livestock in Kano and that is a high point. The vaccination, which is conducted free, is an effective way to protect the animals from diseases and prevent the transfer of the diseases to human beings”, he stated.

Malam Ibrahim highlighted that his project has embarked several initiatives to improve livelihoods of pastoralists including the construction of 100 milk collection centres, pasture development at Dansoshiya Grazing Reserve, engagement of 220 Community Animal Health Workers and upgrading of Artificial Insemination Centre at Kadawa, among other things.

“We are waiting for clearance from the government to start the demarcation of 1, 950 kilometres of stock route across the state and this will be a significant step towards ending recurrent farmers-herdsmen conflict and related problems”, Malam Ibrahim added.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Malam Sadi Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to KSADP for providing the necessary financial support towards the success of the livestock vaccination, hoping the trend will be maintained.

The leader of the Fulani Community at Gurjiya, Malam Ahmadu Canji praised the IsDB/LLF project in Kano for the innovative approach to pastoralists’ issues, advising the project to commence its scheduled stock rout demarcation before the onset of the next rainy season, to avert possible farmers-herdsmen conflict in some communities.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communications Specialist,

KSADP

12th May, 2024

Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the lives and Livelihood Funds, has awarded contracts in the sum of N600, 366, 356. 56, for improvement of Dawanau International Grains market, in Kano, the largest grains market in West Africa.

Contract for the construction of four kilometre road, four kilometre drainage and street lights in the market was awarded to Labor Technical Services Ltd., at the cost of N508, 112, 771.85 while contract for other infrastructure including three blocks of lavatory, mosque, Police outpost, offices and conference room was awarded to AITEC Infraconsult Ltd., at the cost of N92, 253, 584.71.

Expected to significantly change the face of the market, the projects will be supervised by AKAM Consultants and will be completed within 12 months from the date of site possession.

Shortly after signing the contracts, under the supervision of the state Ministry of Justice, the KSADP State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad explained that “the projects were intended to improve the standard of the market in view of its contribution to the economy of the state”.

“Upgrading its infrastructure makes doing business easier and attracts more internally generated revenue. It is also envisaged that with the enhanced status of the market more jobs will be created”, he emphasized.

Malam Ibrahim added “although traders in the market will face some inconveniences during the projects execution, it is expected that the traders will be patient and cooperate with the contractors to ensure smooth execution of the works”.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kano state Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Dr. Faruk Kurawa said the state government is deeply interested in the market and would strictly monitor the projects to ensure value for money.

The chairman of the the Dawanau Market Association, Alh. Muntaqa Sani and representatives of commodity associations, who spoke during the handover of the sites to the contractors, thanked the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds for investing enormously in the transformation of the market.

Meanwhile, the project contractors, Labor Technical Services Ltd. And AITEC Infraconsult Ltd., represented by Hadiza Abdulkadir and Engr. Abdurrazzaq Isah Umar, promised to deliver quality work within the stipulated time.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialists, KSADP

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, has tasked Sasakawa Africa Association, to focus more on mechanization, under the KSADP-SAA grains value chain intervention.

He said the essence is to improve the production efficiency of small holder farmers, enhance food security and generally promote sustainability of the agricultural system.

The Project Coordinator further underscored the need for SAA to encourage private and financial sector involvement in the intervention, to enable the farmers access credit facilities and other forms of support.

“We want a situation whereby our farmers will be doing farming as a business and not just to feed themselves. This cannot be achieved without the support of financial institutions”, he said.

He made the call while receiving the Director for Strategic Partnership, SAA, Dr. Mel Olouch, who visited him at the KSADP office in Kano.

He was particularly happy that the partnership between KSADP and SAA, was delivering positive outcomes in many areas such as capacity building of extension agents and regenerative agriculture, hoping the trend will be maintained.

“Very soon, we will have our mid-term review for the project and we hope that during that time, we be able to look at areas where we need to make improvements so that the goal of this project can be achieved”, he maintained.

In his remarks, Dr. Mel Olouch noted that the KSADP has been internationally acknowledged as an impactful project, pointing out the need for Kano state government to ride on the achievements recorded by the project, to access more development support from the Islamic Development Bank and other donors.

“KSADP will fold up in the next two years so we need to start thinking two years in advance. There is a lot of money set aside by international donors to support agricultural development in Africa, and the government can leverage the goodwill created by KSADP, to attract more funds to the state

He proposed a strategic meeting between his organization and KSADP, to see which areas need to be prioritized, to scale up the achievement recorded under the technical cooperation.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project

20^th July, 2023

Kano State Agro – Pastoral Development, KSADP, has received a three – member delegation from the Abuja hub, Islamic Development Bank, IsDB.

The supervision mission comprising Dr. Javed Saifur Rahman, Dr. Umar Alhaji Ibrahim and Malam Sabi’u Awwal, was in Kano to interact with the KSADP Project Management Unit, officials of the State government and other stakeholders, as well as beneficiaries of the numerous projects financed by the bank.

The IsDB Abuja hub supervises projects under KSADP, to ensure quality assurance of all civil works, project completion timelines, compliance with the bank’s procurement guidelines, attainment of disbursement targets and project impact assessment, among other things.

The mission inspected the upgraded Getso Cattle market, the new Gwarzo slaughter house, a mini rice mill at Dakwara, Gwarzo, a maize seed multiplication plot at Dando, Gwarzo and the Gwale Vet Reference laboratory.

The visitors were also hosted by the Kano Fura Da Nono Cooperative Society Kofar Wambai, in Kano city, where they inspected the cold storage facility constructed for the entrepreneurs by the KSADP.

Dr. Javed Saifur Raham, who addressed the KSADP PMU, expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded so far stressing that the commitment must be sustained to achieve more positive results.

As part of the mission, the team met with the Managing Director, KNARDA, the supervising agency for KSADP as well as the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mahmood.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

8^th August, 2023

Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, has commenced the training of 1, 000 youths in Kano on rice straw utilization, primarily for livestock feed.

The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad said during the commencement of the training, conducted at Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta, that the initiative  which is financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF, is aimed at creating jobs and income streams for the targeted beneficiaries, who were drawn mostly from rice producing communities in the state.

“This training on rice straw utilization is crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture and creating economic opportunities. By educating the youths about the various uses of rice straw instead of burning, such as composting and livestock feed, it can lead to reduced environmental pollution and increased income generation”, he emphasized.

Apart from this, Malam Ibrahim averred that with increased availability of the livestock feed from local rice fields, nomadism, which sometimes results in security challenges will be minimized, adding that the initiative has the potential to ensure improved relations between farmers and herdsmen in Kano.

“It was realized that Rice production in Kano is increasing but the utilization of rice straw is still minimal with most farmers burning them to prepare the land for dry season farming or using them to thatch their roofs. However, rice straw can be treated with urea and fed to livestock to achieve reasonable weight gains”, the Coordinator maintained .

As a result, “the KSADP intends to create 200 production hubs around irrigation schemes and support each group with grant/credit for machines, materials and transportation, to produce and sell Urea-treated rice straw feed. We have already the procured machines. During the harvest season, each group of five youth is expected to produce and sell 500 metric tonnes of the feed. This activity will increase the availability of crop residue for livestock in the State”, Malam Ibrahim added.

In his remarks, the Provost , Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Prof.  Muhammad Wailare said his institution is happy to co-organize the training, explaining that the beneficiaries would be exposed to various simple technologies on rice straw utilization that will not only facilitate income generation but promote sustainable agricultural practices and reduce environmental pollution.

Ameen Kabeer Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

KSADP

16/05/2025