As part of its job creation and poverty mitigation strategy, the Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, plans to invest huge resources in the supply of modern equipment and materials for crop residue utilization.

This is in view of the agricultural potential of the state, with the sector contributing more than 70% of the state’s Gross State Product and the huge prospect for crop residue utilization, for improving animal production and job creation.

Kano’s current annual production of grains alone exceeds 4 million metric tons with an estimated value of N721.20 billion.

The state Project Coordinator, Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, announced this during the bid opening for Procurement of Machines and Materials for Crop Residue utilization, at the KSADP Office, in Kano city.

“The major challenge for the use of these residues is lack of basic technology to improve their nutritional value and to store them. That is why the KSADP intends to procure machines and materials, to engage our youth in crop residue utilization”.

Malam Ibrahim said engaging the youth to manage crop residues would not only keep them employed but also curtail other key challenges of farmers and pastoralists such as animal feed inadequacy and migration.

“In Kano, which is a mainly agricultural state, we produce huge amount of crop residues from wheat, rice, maize, millet, cow pea husks, legumes etc, but the residues are usually left in the farms to rot away, used to produce cooking fire or are burnt. 

“Since productivity of our large and small ruminants is basically influenced by feed intake, it is only reasonable for us to use the crop residues, using some few elements to improve their nutritive value. It is an important solution for enhancing livestock production and safeguarding the environment.”

He, therefore, stated that contract for the implements would be awarded to the most qualified bidder, to ensure value for money explaining that none of the four bidders would be given preferential attention during evaluation of their bids.

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, a project funded by the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihood Fund, Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development and government of Kano state, has the underpinning objective of contributing to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in Kano, by developing agro-pastoral production systems

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

11^th August, 2021

Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, will finance the education of 115 youths of Kano state to study agriculture related disciplines, the State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad has revealed.

The Project Coordinator made this known while conducting members of the project’s steering committee round some of its intervention areas, explaining that the aim is to provide the youths with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive change in the sector.

“We are going to support the training of 50 OND and 50 HND students from the State in Livestock, Crop Management and Extension in Polytechnics and Colleges of Agriculture”, he stated, adding that 10 postgraduate and 5 PhD students with specialization in Milk processing, Rangeland management and extension will be supported to pursue their studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Bayero University, Kano.

“This is apart from the short term training we are going to give a wide range of agricultural players including crop farmers, extension workers, vet officials, commodity associations, animal fatteners, milk processors and marketers etc, since capacity building is a cross cutting issue in the components off this project.”

“Our project is focusing on capacity building because we aim to support the government towards changing agriculture from a mere socio-cultural practice to a more rewarding economic venture”.

He said in doing its work, the project has received tremendous support from the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund and the government of Kano state, who have been funding it and closely monitoring its activities to ensure accountability and maximum impact.

The Chairman of the KSADP Steering Committee and Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Sate Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Balarabe Hassan Karaye, said the inspection was to ensure that the project’s activities were executed not only in tune with its approved budget but also in line with global best practices.

“As you can see, we are keying in into the federal Government’s Agriculture vision and this project is a significant step towards ensuring food sufficiency and job creation for our teeming population”.

Projects inspected by the Steering Committee include the on-going extension of KSADP office complex, mopping up of small ruminants’ vaccination at Bichi local government area, distribution of inputs under the KSADP/ SAA crops value chain intervention as well as the renovation of Watari dam and irrigation infrastructure at Bagwai local government area.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

29^th July, 2021

Kano state government has released operational funds for the State Stock Routes Committee to commence its activities, the Managing Director, Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA has announced.  .

The state has 1,450 km of major stock routes and 500 km of minor stock routes across the state, many of which are not gazetted or have been encroached or blocked, leading to recurrent conflict between farmers and pastoralists.

In this connection, the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, will support the survey, physical demarcation and mapping, using GPS technology and traditional marking, documentation and gazettement of these routes.

This is with the aim of minimizing conflict which often results in loss of lives, animals, property and sometimes, destruction of whole communities.

Dr. Junaid, who was speaking during the second meeting of the Stock Routes Committee, stated that “Local government stock routes committees comprising local government officials, security operatives, traditional leaders, representatives of pastoralists and other relevant stakeholders will be formed and supported in to ensure smooth implementation of the main committees’ work”.

The Managing Director, who doubles as the chairman of the State Stock Routes Committee, maintained that the working group would rely on the vast experience and influence of the critical stakeholders involved to make sure that the set objectives are achieved.

In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibahim Garba Muhammad remarked that “the resulting change after implementing the stock route intervention is peaceful co-existence, which is the bedrock upon which all developmental activities will be based”.

Participants at the meeting stressed the need for the government to recover and protect the stock routes, to facilitate free and safe passage of pastoralists and their cattle for water and fodder, especially in view of increasing pressure on land.

They also requested the State Ministry of Agriculture to furnish the committee with data and old stock routes maps to serve as a guide in undertaking their assignment.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

28^th July, 2021

Water has been released from Watari dam in Kano state, to allow for continuation of irrigation activities within Bagwai, Bichi local government areas and environs.

It could be recalled that a few months ago, release of water from the dam was halted so that repair works can be carried out on the dam infrastructure without hindrance.

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), had awarded contract for the repair and rehabilitation of the Watari Irrigation Scheme to Messrs. Hajaig Nigeria Limited, for the sum of N 315 million, as part of measures to enhance food security, rural development and poverty alleviation in the state.

The irrigation scheme, which is situated downstream of the Watari dam has potential to irrigate 2, 600 ha and is used for both wet and dry season farming of rice wheat, legumes and vegetables.

Shortly before the water was released, in the presence of a huge crowd of joyous farmers, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), Ibrahim Garba Muhammad explained that although barely 40 percent of the repair works had been completed, it was imperative to release the water now since one critical component of the work, repair of the water canals and desilting of the night storage reservoir have been completed.

“It was a tough decision to stop release of the water at this material time because of the implication on the farmers whose livelihoods depends on this dam”.

He noted that the work was going on speedily acknowledging that the farming communities surrounding the dam have been participating in the renovation work from day one.

“Community participation is key to success of government policies and projects like this one. I am happy that you are involved in the work from what we have seen during our visits in the past”.

On his part, the Managing Director of Kano State Agriculture and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Dr. Junaid Yakubu Muhammad, who was impressed by the enthusiasm with which the farmers, announced a donation of farm inputs including bags of fertilizer, bags of leguminous crops seeds, sprayers and other items to 100 selected farmers in the domain.

“The gesture will motivate the farmers to strengthen their resolve in agriculture and importantly, to maintain support to the contractor handling the renovation of the dam, for speedy completion of the work”.

“Expressing his gratitude on behalf of farmers, the Chairman of the Watari Farmers Association, Malam Ibrahim Sani described the KSADP intervention as “a new lease of life for the farming communities in the domain”. He stated that “Our lives and the lives of our families depend on this dam. We do not know anything other than farming throughout the year”.

Malam Ibrahim, therefore, expressed appreciation to Kano State Government, KSADP and the development partners funding the project for the intervention which he said would be a shining legacy in the state.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist, KSADP

19^th April, 2021

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has signed a four-year agreement worth over N220 million with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, for technical backstopping in several thematic areas, to assure quality of the project’s interventions.

The agreement, which will take effect from the 2021 planting season entails among other things, provision of support to Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, to reach out to at least 100, 000 farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state, with trainings, post harvest interventions and Agribusiness services.

It also includes provision of seed support for KNARDA and SG2000 crops seeds multiplication for targeted commodities, as well as to the value chain implementation, including inputs access, technologies access etc.

Similarly, the agreement covers training of KNARDA staff at various levels, provision of technical support and knowledge support tools, co-supervision of two doctorate and five postgraduate degree thesis in Agro-economy, especially in milk processing, rangeland management and extension.

Shortly after the signing formalities, the State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba, explained that “the agreement is about long-term institutional capacity building and community empowerment, which will ultimately result in improved food security and economic development”.

“Our extension workers need new skills to meet the demand of the fast changing agricultural value chain and agribusiness systems for sustainable food security and economic development.”

In this regard, Malam Ibrahim emphasized that “the overall objective of the KSADP is to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in the state of Kano by developing agro-pastoral production systems. To achieve this objective, we must leverage high level of technical competence and, in this direction, we believe IITA will be a very reliable partner”.

On his part, the Managing Director of KNARDA, Dr. Junaid Yakubu Muhammad described the agreement as a significant step towards the success of the state government’s agricultural transformation strides.

He expressed high optimism that with IITA’s long standing reputation, a synergy between the organization and the KSADP would yield the desired outcomes in agricultural productivity.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

2^nd June, 2021

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has awarded contract worth about N186. 7 million for design and supervision consultancy services for the development of 3, 000 hectares grazing reserve at Dansoshiya, Kiru local government.

The consultancy series contract was awarded to Messrs Hamjik Agric Plus Ltd., with a completion period of 21 months from the date of signing the contractual documents.

The scope of work includes advisory and counseling services on personnel and project issues, carrying our pre-investment studies, carrying out engineering and design of the project as well as implementation and supervision services.

In the same vein, the KSADP awarded contract in the tune of about N112 million for design and supervision consultancy services for the development of 1, 000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure at Watari, Bagwai local government area.

The work, which was awarded to Messrs. Nineteen Consults Ltd., with a completion period of 21 months, will cover many tasks ranging from engineering, architecture, economics and finance, project management and procurement.

Speaking during an inception meeting with the consultants and the Project Management Unit, KSADP, shortly after the award formalities, the Managing Director, Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Dr. Junaid Yakubu Muhammad told the consultants that they were selected on merit, stressing the need for them to deliver quality services that would stand the test of time.

“As you know, KNARDA is the implementing agency of KSADP and this is a signature project of the Ganduje administration. We expect that based on your backgrounds, you will provide services that will lead to achieve the project’s objectives”.

On his part, the State Project Coordinator, Kano Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad described the Dansohiya Grazing Reserve project and the expansion of Watari Irrigation infrastructure as key to the success of the state government’s herdsmen resettlement program, better known as RUGA as well as its food sufficiency initiative.

“These projects will kick-start massive agro-pastoral transformation in Kano in line with the objective of the KSADP, to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in the state by developing agro-pastoral production systems”.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

2^nd June, 2021