Kano State AgroPastoral Development Project, KSADP, has expressed readiness to collaborate with Borno State government towards actualization of the state’s Ruga settlement project.

The State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad made the pledge while receiving a delegation from Borno State government, led by the state Commissioner for Animal Resources and Fisheries Development, Comrade Juliana Bitrus, at the KSADP office in Kano.

“We are determined to transform agriculture in Kano from a largely socio-cultural practice to a socio-economic endeavor and we will support the Borno state government to also achieve in that regard”, he stated.

“The interventions at Dansoshiya are just one of the several parts of our multi-component project. We will also run a cattle fattening scheme and provide the beneficiaries support as well as provide linkages with off-takers”.

“We are also working with the private sector to stop the transport of live animals, for meat, to be taken to any part of the world”, saying transporting live animals is not safe, unprofitable and not animal friendly. 

Besides, he highlighted that the project would invest in the provision of rural infrastructure, crops development, upgrade of Dawanau market and five other markets infrastructure, construction of milk collection centers and training of farmers and extension agents, among others.

“I wish to convey to you the goodwill of the Kano State Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Agriculture and hope that we will work together for the good of our states”.

Earlier, the Borno state Commissioner for Animal Resources and Fisheries Development, Comrade Juliana Bitrus said the delegation was mandated by Gov. Babagana Zulum to examine the Kano Ruga Project and how it can be replicated in Borno state. 

“We have visited Dansoshiya grazing reserve and saw the Fulani. I have seen how happy they are and I want to say that Gov. Ganduje of Kano state is doing very well in the Ruga”.

“Kano is now a model for the Ruga project and it seems you have done a lot of work and involved many experts”, she stated, adding that Borno State stands to gain a lot from the Kano AgroPastoral Development Project.

The Borno state delegation included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Animal Resources, Hon. Tijjani Goni Muhammad, the Chairman Borno Mega Farm, Alh. Musa Inuwa Kubo and the Director of Livestock Services in the state Ministry of Animal Resources, Malam Bukar Kolo.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

6^th October, 2020

The construction of a bridge across Kamanda stream at Dansoshiya Grazing Reserve in Kiru local government area of Kano state is key to the success of the state government’s plan to transform the reserve into a mega Ruga settlement project.

The reserve, which is about 4, 400 hectares is cut into two halves by the stream, hindering year-round access to both sides as well as to services and markets in big towns.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State AgroPastoral Development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad made this known while receing a delegation from Borno State government, led by the state Commissioner for Animal Resources and Fisheries Development, Comrade Juliana Bitrus, who visited him in Kano.

He noted that “the grazing reserve currently accommodates hundreds households who lack access to resources and are faced with the risk of losing their lives and property while crossing the stream especially during the rainy season”.

“Therefore, to be able to reach Fulani households for vaccination campaigns, livelihood support and access to other services, the bridge is very essential”.

“We are seeking the opinion of the Islamic Development Bank on this matter and on the construction of more earth dams to make our multi billion Naira investment in the reserve more worthwhile”.

Malam Ibrahim emphasized that besides investing in communal and household level fodder development endeavors, the project would provide fence for the reserve covering 25 kilometers, construct 20 kilometer access roads, a nomadic school, a market and milk collection centers, among other amenities.

“A Ruga project such as this needs political will to achieve its target and we are driven by the support we are getting from Gov. Ganduje, to make this project a big success story”.

He disclosed that the state government would demarcate, gazette and monument its stock routes to mitigate recurrent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

In her remarks, the Borno state Commissioner for Animal Resources and Fisheries Development, Comrade Juliana Bitrus, who had earlier on visited the grazing reserve, explained that the visit was to learn from the experience of Kano, in establishing Ruga settlement.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

6^th October, 2020

The Rehabilitation of Watari Irrigation Scheme by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, expected to gulp not less than N300 million, will enhance food security, create more jobs and alleviate poverty in Kano state.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project, Alh. Ibrahim Garba Muhammad disclosed this on Monday, during the bid opening for repair works of Watari Irrigation Scheme, in Kano.

The Watari irrigation scheme is situated downstream of the Watari dam, largely located in Bagwai local government area, and has potential for cultivation of rice and several irrigated crops.

“Apart from the renovation of the dam, which has been badly affected by atmospheric and other variables, our project intends to create additional 1, 000 hectares of irrigation land in the downstream of the dam”, he added.

“This will serve as solution to the problem of food security faced by rural farmers, ensure effective use of the dam and promote climate-smart irrigation. It also has a great potential to create more rural jobs”.

Malam Ibrahim said the project belongs to all citizens of Kano and expanding such investment must be cherished, because of its envisaged impact on the state’s economy.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Alh. Ibrahim Sulaiman Dan’Isle, assured that all bidding and award of contracts by KSAPD would be as transparent as possible, in line with global best practices.

He stated that emphasis would be placed on ensuring value for money in the award of the repair works on the Watari Irrigation scheme, saying “it is very important for the state and particularly for us, being the only irrigation scheme managed by KNARDA. Rice, tomato, pepper and other farm produce are cultivated under this scheme”.

On his part, the Chairman of the Bid Opening Committee and State Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Dayyabu Tijjani stated that the bid opening procedure was a clear testimony of the transparent nature of KSADP, hoping the spirit would remain alive.

“Eventually, only one company will get the contract but I want to urge all bidders  to be optimistic since there are multiple opportunities for contracts under the KSADP”, he stressed.

Responding on behalf of the bidders, Mr. Joseph Prebor, from Maritime Support Services Ltd., described the bid opening as very proper, thorough and transparent.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

21^st September, 2020

Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has awarded a contract worth N88, 049, 970 million for the establishment of 20 hectare seed multiplication plots at Dudduru Grazing Reserve in Ajingi local government area of the state.

The contract, which was awarded to the National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, entails establishment and management of seed plots, construction of stores, security rooms, drying sheds, boreholes, installation of irrigation facilities and perimeter fencing.

The seeds to be produced are Hybrid Napier, Gamba grass and Cook Stylo which are native to tropical Africa and are important fodder crops for dairy farmers, according to the State Project Coordinator, Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad.

Fodder crops are key in the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry because the bulk of the animal protein especially milk and meat, consumed in the country derive from cattle and small ruminants, which are essentially dependent on these crops.

“The seasonal migration of herdsmen from the north to the southern part of the country in search of pasture and water, as well as competition for land resources between the herdsmen and farmers makes fodder production a very important activity”.

“Moreover, low level of animal production in the core North, like Kano, is commonly associated with the inability to get sufficient animal feed particularly in the dry season”.

Malam Ibrahim, therefore, stated that the contract award for seed multiplication plots was the backbone of the KSADP’s planned support for investment in commercial large scale fodder production, in partnership with the private sector.

The project coordinator added that the cultivated fodder seeds would also be planted at Dansoshiya forest in Kiru local government area to provide about 4, 000 hectares of pasture, thus, transforming the forest into a huge grazing reserve.

“The project will also support about 5, 000 small holder farmers to develop pasture land from which they will cut and carry fodder and sell to prospective livestock producers especially in the pre-urban setting”, he added.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

12^th September, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, on Wednesday, opened proposals by interested private companies for recrutiment of Auditor for the project.

Addressing participants during the proposal opening exercise which took place at the project office, KNARDA Building in Kano, the Chairman of the Evaluation committee, Alh. Yusuf Abdullahi said the committee would to justice to all bidders by ensuring that the specified criteria were adhered to.

“We will do justice to all by following the laid down criteria. It is also our hope that the eventual winner will live up to expectation”, he added.

On his part, the Project Procurement Specialist, Mal. Shehu Ibrahim Lajawa explained that the bid opening was preceded by advertisement in a national daily where all the criteria for pre-qualification were clearly and concisely specified.

He stated that only five firms submitted proposals to recruit the Auditor for the project.

In his remarks on behalf of the bidders during the exercise, the representative of Yusha’u Na’abba and Company, Mal. Shafi’u Umar described the exercise as open and transparent.

Others who spoke during the occasion include the State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad and the representative of the Managing Director of KNARDA, Hajiya Aisha Ahmad Rufa’i.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

26^th August, 2020

The Chairman, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions Committee of the Federal House of Representatives, Alh. Munir Babba Dan Agundi, says agriculture remains the best option for Nigeria to regenerate its economy.

He said: “While other countries are seeking what to fall back to in these times of global economic recession, we (Nigeria) have nothing to fall back to other than agriculture”.

Alh. Munir DanAgundi, representing Kumbotso Federal constituency, Kano State made the assertion today (Monday) during the stakeholders inception meeting of the Kano Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) / Sasakawa partnership, at the Center for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano.

“Agriculture is our major strength so we must pay serious attention to it. Activities such as this, the Kano Agro Pastoral Project working with Sasakawa, will help us to revive our economy.”

He was of the opinion that given Nigeria’s vast arable land and large farming population, agriculture would not only help the country to diversify its economy but also ensure food security and poverty alleviation, which are part of the objectives of the KSADP.

He said that as law makers, members of the National Assembly would work towards ensuring that the Federal Government puts in place sound policies that would ensure sustainable agricultural and economic development, lamenting that policy inconsistency was a major setback to the economy.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano Agro Pastoral development Project, Ibahim Garba Muhammad, represented by the Project Crop Specialist, Abdullahi Raba, explained that the cooperation between KSADP and Sasakawa, was to develop targeted crop value chains, develop rural infrastructure, promote marketing enterprises and build the capacity of farmers.

“In this regard, our project will count on engagement with private sector so as that deliver on our interventions and eventually achieve the objectives of eradicating poverty, creation more jobs and ensuring food security in Kano”, he assured.

In his remarks, the Country Director, Sasakawa Africa/SG 2000, Prof. Sani Miko, explained that the meeting was convened as part of measures to ensure that the KSADP/Sasakawa partnership started on the right footing.

“We want to ensure that we do not disappoint the small holder farmer. We will make the farmers more functional by not only giving them technical support but also building two-way confidence and trust”, he assured.

The meeting, which was attended by representatives of research institutions and the private sector, agreed to arrange a stakeholders’ implementation planning meeting, to assign specific roles and responsibilities to partners, share relevant documents for better understanding of the project and to explore ways to integrate e-extension in the project, among other things.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

17^th August, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, will spend about N2. 5 billion to develop Danshoshiya forest in Kiru Local government area of the state into grazing reserve.

The investment includes construction 20 km of access (earth) roads, 5 solar-powered boreholes with 20,000-litre overhead tanks, development of 4,000 ha of pasture land, a veterinary clinic, livestock marketing facilities, and a nomadic school, among others.

The State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba announced this on Thursday during the bids opening for establishment of a 20 hectares seed multiplication plot, held at the project office in Kano city. 

The fodder seeds, which will be cultivated at Dudduru, Ajinigi local government eventually be planted at Dansoshiya Forest to provide feed for cattle and small ruminants.

At full implementation, this activity is expected to yield not less than 100,000 tons of fodder, supporting thousands of livestock units and hundreds of pastoral families all year round.

Malam Ibrahim stated that the bids opening for seeds multiplication was a step towards speedy implementation of the grazing reserve development plan.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Alh. Ibrahim Sulaiman Dan’Isle, who chaired the Evaluation committee, stated that the bidding process was guided by the principles of transparency, fairness, competition, integrity and value for money.

Responding on behalf of the bidders, who Dr. Y.M. Ishiaku, who represented the National Animal Productivity Research Institute, NAPRI, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, described the bidding process as satisfactory. He expressed optimism that the seeds multiplication project would go a long way in addressing farmers-herdsmen conflict.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

27^th August, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP will support the training of 50 Ordinary National Diploma and 50 Higher National Diploma students from the State in Livestock, Crop Management and Extension services.

The training will be carried out in Polytechnics and Colleges of Agriculture, the State Programme Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced today (Wednesday), while receiving a delegation from the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, Kano, in his office.

“It is critical to educate prospective agricultural workers in Kano because agricultural literacy is key in managing the state’s abundant natural potentials and, significantly, in view of the need to ensure food and nutrition security for its growing population”.

In this regard, he said the project would collaborate with the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology and similar tertiary institutions, to assist the students to acquire agricultural skills using innovative knowledge support tools.

“The project will also support special training on grain handling for Dawanau market commodity associations to improve quality and safety of commodities that go into international markets. Therefore, your institution will be of tremendous assistance in this direction”.

The Project Coordinator also announced plans to train pastoralists, milk processors animal marketers and Para-vets, as part of a deliberate strategy to make the project sustainable and result oriented.

He said the support of the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, as a stakeholder in the project, as well as other agricultural institutions was imperative to make the set goals achievable.

The Provost of the College, Muhammad Hadi Ibrahim, represented by the Academic Secretary, Sirajo Salisu said the institution approached the project for collaboration because it has a role to play in ensuring agricultural development of the state and Nigeria at large.

According to him, the institution had “the mandate of training middle level manpower for the agricultural sector on postharvest processing, preservation and storage of agricultural produce to reduce postharvest losses”.

“The college also organizes trainings for farmers, cooperative groups, youth and women associations on agricultural produce processing, preservation and storage with the aim of empowering them for self-employment and improved food security”, he stressed.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

19^th August, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project would re-introduce animal insemination in the state, to enhance the reproductive capacities of dairy cattle, the state Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad has announced.

“We are making arrangements to start the activity in the first quarter of 2021, most likely at Kadawa, in Garun Malam Local government area to help herdsmen in the Kano to improve productivity and profitability of their dairy enterprise”, he stated. 

In artificial insemination bulls of superior quality can be efficiently exploited to inseminate the female animals, resulting in improved breed and milk yields.

The Project Coordinator stated this while receiving Kano State executives of Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization, FUDECO, led by the state Coordinator, Abdullahi Isa, at the Project office in Kano.

“This is one of the strategies we have adapted to effect change in the living condition of the herdsmen. Ordinarily, our local cow breed produces not more than 1. 5 liters daily while up to 15 liters or more can be after insemination with the appropriate breed of bulls”, he explained.

“We are also venturing into pasture and cattle routes development because we have understood that lack of animal feed within the immediate environment is one of the threats to peace and sustainable pastoralism in Kano”.

“We have concluded plans to invest in commercial and small scale fodder production while we are going to spend a lot of money on developing a grazing reserve with social amenities at Dansoshiya forest, to reduce the difficulty of herding and to curb seasonal migration”.

“I want to inform you that our state wide animal vaccination will start in the next few weeks while we intend to extend veterinary care, including engagement of community paravets, so that we can improve the quality of cattle and other ruminants”.

He, therefore, requested the support of FUDECO, in the enlightenment of Fulani herdsmen, to enable them adopt the extension services to be introduced by the project, which would ultimately lead to positive change in their socio-economic status.

In his remarks, the State Coordinator, FUDECO, Abdullahi Isa said is a non-governmental organization NGO with focus on addressing the developmental challenges facing Fulani Pastoralists.

“We have come to learn more about this project and to see how we can key in to it to ensure to that the economic capacities of our people are enhanced”, he affirmed.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

5^th August, 2020

Kano state Agro Pastoral Development Project is investing heavily in local milk production and processing to fast track the development of indigenous dairy industry for national economic development.

The State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad said the decision was predicated on the fact that continued importation of processed milk and milk products to Nigeria was economically harmful to the nation.

Nigeria spends between $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion on milk and other dairy products importation annually, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Malam Ibrahim Garba, made the assertion while receiving the State Coordinator, Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, RMRDC, Malam Hambali Muhammad at the project office in Kano.

“The gap between supply and demand for dairy products is widening in Nigeria. Yet we have the potential to produce enough milk that will serve our population and even export to other countries, if we invest appropriately”.

“So under this project, we are approaching the issue from different angles. We are constructing 200 milk collection centers to supply the high quality, safe and adequate raw milk required by dairy processing firms and indeed, the general public”.

“Similarly, we will train the herdsmen and milk vendors on hygiene and best practices on milk production and processing, to add value to their products”.

“We are also engaging in large and community scale fodder production that will help our herdsmen to settle down and not to migrate seasonally in search of pasture”.

Another area of focus of the project, according to Malam Ibrahim, is insemination of cows and small ruminants fattening, to improve the quality and quantity of milk, meat and even leather produced in the state.

He said the project was keen to gain from the expertise of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, RMRDC, in the establishment of milk collection centers as well as in the areas of meat and leather development.

On his part, the State Coordinator, Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, RMRDC, Malam Hambali Muhammad explained that the visit was to explore areas of mutual cooperation with the project for common good of the citizenry.

“Our organization is charged with the mandate to promote the development and utilization of Nigeria’s industrial raw materials. We want to see how we can work together to help the project to grow.”

He urged the project to avail itself of the agricultural research findings of his organization, to achieve is vision and mission.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

4^th August, 2020