Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project has expressed readiness to collaborate with Dantata Foods and Allied Products Ltd. for improvement of selected agricultural value chains.

This is in line with the project’s objective to enhance linkages between smallholder farmers and the private sector, in order to improve production, storage, processing, off-taking and marketing of agricultural commodities.

The state Project coordinator, Malam Ibahim Garba Muhammad disclosed this during a meeting with the management of company led by its chairman, Alhaji Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata, on Tuesday, in Kano.

As part of the crop products value addition and market access component of the project, he said farmers in Kano would be provided with specialized extension services and would be linked with off-takers of grains and food processors.

“Therefore, private sector actors like Dantata Foods will play a key role in off-taking crops like rice, maize, sorghum, soy beans, cowpea, groundnut, etc, produced by farmers in the state”, the Project Coordinator stated.

Malam Ibrahim also pointed that his project was ready to collaborate with the company in livestock development, specifically animal fattening and meat off-taking as well as commercial fodder development.

“The project will support investment in commercial large-scale fodder production in partnership with the private sector. It will identify 20 private sector investors interested in fodder production on plots of no less than 50 hectares each, assist them in the development of the pastures and provide them with harvesting and bailing equipment, in addition to marketing facilities”, he explained.

Malam Ibrahim thanked Dantata Foods for expressing interest to partner with KSADP and reaffirmed commitment to support initiatives towards making agriculture a win-win venture for farmers and entrepreneurs.

In his remarks earlier, the chairman of Dantata Foods and Allied Products, Alh. Tajuddeen Dantata said his company has the potential to work with the project, as off-takers and producers of agricultural products.

“With your project, we can work together to solve the many problems facing the northern part of country. We have enormous potentials but we are not using them to our advantage. With this kind of arrangement, we can be self-sustaining”, he affirmed.

Alh. Dantata said his company is interested in working with KSADP in the areas of grains off-take from farmers, commercial fodder production, livestock fattening, livestock off-take and halal meat certification as well empowerment of women and youth, through agriculture.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

21^st July, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has solicited the support of the National Animal Production Research Institute, NAPRI, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on fodder production in Kano.

The Project’s Livestock Specialist, Dr. Garba Saleh, who stated this during a visit to the institute’s Executive Director, Prof. Abdullahi K. Muhammad, explained that the project was desirous of the institute’s support in seed and pasture development, for quality animal productivity.

“At KSADP, we realized that sustainable livestock development is seriously affected by insufficiency of fodder so there is the need to focus attention on its development”.

“Quality fodder seeds ensure increase in fodder production leading to improved milk production and reduced feeding cost for herdsmen”.

“In addition, if sufficient fodder is available within our environment, seasonal migration and its attendant consequences like cattle rustling, farmer-herder clashes etc will drastically be reduced”.

He stated that the project would promote private sector interest and engagement in fodder production and marketing, in view of its income generating potentials.

“Just recently, Kano state government approved 1000 hectares of land for lease, for commercial, large scale animal fodder production under our project and this will enable us start our investment in commercial large scale fodder production, in partnership with the private sector”, he added.

The Livestock Specialist added that the project also targeted small holder investors in fodder production especially those within diary production catchment areas.

“At the moment, we intend to promote three fodder crops for improved milk production namely, Stylo, Nappeir grass and Gamba”, the Livestock Specialist added.

Dr. Saleh therefore, stressed the need for research institutes like NAPRI to provide the much needed technical assistance to make the project’s set goals achievable.

In his remarks, NAPRI’s Executive Director, Prof. Abdullahi K. Muhammad, assured of readiness to partner with the Kano Agro Pastoral Development Project, to develop fodder for animal feeding and any other form of assistance within the institute’s mandate.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

11^th July, 2020

Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Thursday, formally unveiled the $95 million Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development project, KSADP, a flagship project of his administration.

It is chiefly financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a development initiative through which the bank and other organizations provide concessional financing to its member countries.

The objective of the project, expected to be implemented within a five year period, is to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food security in the state, which is the most populous in Nigeria, by developing agro-pastoral production systems.

Speaking the project’s start-up workshop at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano metropolis, Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje explained that it aims to enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness through access to input and credit, value addition and market access, extension services delivery and capacity building. The project will take into account some pertinent cross cutting matters such as private sector involvement and gender mainstreaming.

“The KSADP will provide the much – needed solution to farmer – herder conflicts, unfettered nomadism as well as enhance the development of pastoral communities”, he stated.

“I want to believe that it is only project such as this one that can curb famers – herders clashes and security risks, improve farm yields, accelerate livestock production through adoption of modern best practices to generally improve the economic potentials of our small holder farmers”, Ganduje added.

“The project will improve the capacity of our herdsmen to produce and process more milk and pave way for quality beef production. We are of the belief that because of the security implication of nomadic life style such as farmer-herders clashes and the fact that the old system of cattle rearing is more cultural than economical, things must change”, he said.

Gov. Ganduje added: “we decided to create Ruga settlements in our forests such as Dansoshiya and with the help of this IsDB supported Project, we are going to make them full-fledged grazing reserves”.

“I understand that through this project, the Dawanau International grains market, the largest grains market in West Africa will be upgraded through the provision of essential infrastructure that will help in improving its status as a foremost market. This is in consonance with our desire to promote food crop marketing and market access for our farmers”, the governor enthused.

Dr. Ganduje assured that his government will ensure timely release of this counterpart fund of $5 million to facilitate smooth implementation of the project.

In his remarks, the Manager, Islamic Development Bank, Regional Hub of Abuja, Mr. Mayoro Niang, explained that the project is aligned to the bank President’s five year plan and the Federal government’s Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Strategy.

“This five year project will contribute to poverty reduction and to strengthen food and nutrition security of vulnerable population in Kano state through sustainable development of livestock and crop selected value chains”, he stressed.

On the workshop, Mr. Niang said it is to ensure that the quality of the project is maintained and to guarantee proper orientation on its specifics, under applicable policies and procedures of the bank.

In his remarks, Mr. Jean Jacques, from the Lives and Livelihood Funds, said his organization, a partner of the Islamic Development Bank group, is glad to work with the Kano state government to make positive impact on the lives of the poor.

“The fund is delighted to support not only Kano state but also other IsDB member countries to address community health, agriculture and basic infrastructure challenges”, he stated.

He however maintained that, “Our concessional financing comes with obligations including abiding all our rules and regulations, accurate procurement plan, clear disbursement plan and having maximum project impact, among others”.

Ameen. K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

20^th February, 2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has earmarked N199, 584, 000 for the repair of Watari dam and Irrigation Scheme, in Bagwai local government area of the state.

This is part of measures to mitigate the risks of COVID 19 on food security and nutrition in the state, the State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced in a statement.

Already, preliminary technical assessment of the Watari Dam situated about 100 km north – east of Kano city is being conducted by a team of engineers and surveyors, while consultancy for the design and supervision of the work, as well as development of additional land for irrigation has been advertised.

“The project will invest in the rehabilitation of the Watari canal and drainages, including the night reservoir to mitigate gully erosion that is threatening the dam embankment. More than 150 hectares of land damaged within the vicinity of the land will be reclaimed. Barring any eventuality, this work will start by October, this   year ”.

“Also, 1000 hectares of land downstream will be developed, using gravity for irrigation for about 4,000 new farmers for rice, wheat and vegetable production”.

“The project will also fund the rehabilitation of other irrigation facilities or the development of new irrigation schemes within the state, even as we will support smallholder farmers to access equipment for land preparation, harvest and post-harvest operations. This will sustainably increase production, yield and make crops residues and agro-industrial by-products more abundant for animals feeding”. 

“We also realized that while the state is making effort to boost Rice production in fadama, the utilization of rice straw is still minimal with most producers burning them to prepare the land for dry season farming”.

“However, since rice straw can be treated with urea and fed to livestock to achieve reasonable weight gains, the project will identify at least 1,000 unemployed youth, group them into 200 production hubs around irrigation schemes and support each group with grant/credit for machines and materials, to produce and sell rice straw/urea mix feed. This activity will by far increase the availability of crop residue for livestock in the State”.

In addition, he revealed that the project, through Sasakawa SG 2000 services, will impact on thousands of farmers of rice and maize selected from various local government areas, providing them with trainings, inputs warehousing and marketing services.   

“All the necessary paper work has been done and as soon as we obtain clearance from the Islamic Development Bank, hopefully in the next few days, we shall commence an innovative, broad impact and capital intensive partnership with Sasakawa that will help boost food production in Kano”, he stated.   

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

7^th July, 2020

Kano state government has approved 1000 hectares of land for lease, for commercial, large scale animal feed production, under the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP.

The approved expanse of land is spread across selected government grazing reserves in 16 local government areas of the state.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, Ibrahim Garba made this known shortly after a meeting with a team of government officials led by the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Alh. Adamu Abdu Faragai, in Kano.

“The government’s gracious approval for this land will enable the commencement of our investment in commercial large scale fodder production, in partnership with the private sector”, he said.

“Our project will now identify 20 private sector investors interested in fodder production on plots of no less than 50 hectares each and assist them in the development of pastures, provision of harvesting and bailing equipment and marketing facilities”.

This development, will among other things, ensure sufficient feed for animals, increase milk yield, and facilitate  artificial insemination services.

Malam Ibrahim also revealed that the government, through the state Ministry of Agriculture, approved for the project to utilize 20 hectares of land for fodder seed multiplication at Dudduru grazing reserve, in Ajingi local government area of the state.

Other critical issues discussed during the meeting, include KSADP’s intended state-wide cattle and small ruminants vaccination, establishment of a Veterinary reference laboratory at Gwale local government, equipping and operationalization of Artificial Insemination Center at Kadawa, in Garun Malam local government area as well as the construction of a modern veterinary clinic at Dansoshiya in Kiru local government. 

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

9^th July, 2020

The Project Management Unit, Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, engaged in a joint Virtual retreat with officials of the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF and the Africa Consulting and Trading, ACT.

The retreat was to take stock of progress in the project and to re-define priorities due to Covid – 19 impact.

It provided opportunity for participants to hold broad discussions on how to fast- track implementation of the project, which was formally unveiled last February.

Issues including project accomplishments, private sector engagement key project challenges were discussed.

Mr. Ibrahim Chiekh Diong coordinated the retreat. Mr. Diong is Founder and Chairman of the Dakar-based financial and management consulting firm, Africa Consulting and Trading (ACT Afrique Group).

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

22^nd July, 2020

Kano state government will in the next couple of months, unveil a multilateral scheme that will revolutionize dairy production and make the state the dairy production hub in Nigeria.

The capital intensive project will be executed through the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, which is funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro Pastoral development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced this today (Tuesday), while receiving a delegation from Fura da Nono Cooperative Association, the umbrella union for milk vendors in the state, at the project office in Kano.

He stated that the initiative comprises construction and equipping of 200 milk collection centers as well as financial and technical support to Milk Cooperative Societies.

Malam Ibrahim specifically maintained that the milk collection centers would  provide for “cost effective and energy efficient cold chain, which allows for raw milk to be collected, tested, chilled and stored, without compromises in quality that will otherwise lead to milk rejection and profit loss”.

“With this development, the milk quality is guaranteed and the herdsman’s income is assured. So it will be a win-win situation for the herdsman, the milk vendors and the milk up-takers”.

According to him, apart from milk collection centers, there is the cattle insemination aspect, massive fodder production and sustained cattle vaccination for animal health among other schemes, aimed at improving milk production substantially, and making the dairy sub-sector a major income earner for milk producers and processors.

“As the project unfolds, we are going to support the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association with some facilities and training on good hygienic practices and storage, while many women and youth members of the association will be empowered with mini processing units”, he assured.

The Coordinator therefore, urged members of the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association to work more closely with the Kano Agro Pastoral Development to make its set goals achievable.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association, Alh. Lawan Muhammad said the visit was to enable members of his association contribute towards the successful implementation of the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project.

“We have come to advice and to seek clarification on how far the project has gone especially pertaining to milk collection centers and our role in enhancing milk production and sale in Kano”, he added.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

30/06/2020

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, will expend millions of Naira, in the development of grazing reserves as well as establishment of platforms to manage grazing reserves and stock routes in several locations across the state.

The State Project Coordinator, Alh. Ibrahim Garba Muhammad revealed this during a visit to the Village Head of Dangora, Ardo of Dansoshiya forest and a cross-section of community leaders, in Kiru local government area of the state.

“Our biggest investment in this direction is in developing the Dansoshiya grazing reserve, the largest in Kano state, which is about 4,312 ha”, he stated.

“This initiative is part of our several strategically designed programmes, aimed at curbing itinerant lifestyle by herdsmen and its accompanying repercussions. This endeavor will keep them with animals around their homesteads and help them to grow and store feed for the animals”, Alh. Ibahim Garba stressed.

“This visit, is therefore, to inform you, as critical stakeholders, that we are sending some officials to enumerate the pastoralists households, cattle heads and sundry needs, within the Dansoshiya Forest axis and to identify their development needs, so that we can plan projects and programmes which suit them best”, the State Project Coordinator explained.

He said the KSADP intends to provide infrastructure and services that will make life comfortable for the herdsmen living within Dansoshiya Forest and its surrounding area, adding that input from the beneficiaries would make the project a resounding success.  

He urged the stakeholders present during the meeting to help create awareness on the project and to ginger communal support towards its implementation.

In their respective remarks, participants at the meeting promised to cooperate with the project officials towards successful stock-taking of their development needs and eventual improvement of the Dansoshiya grazing reserve.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project will improve food security as well as increase incomes and livelihood in the state, in line with the Federal Government’s Economic and Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Consequently, it will support the government’s efforts at enhancing agricultural productivity and competitiveness through access to inputs, value addition and market access, extension services and capacity building.

According to the State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, the multi million US Dollar project will contribute significantly to poverty reduction, job creation and food security in the state “through sustainable development of selected crop and livestock value chains”.

He stated this while receiving Prof. Musa Tukur Yakasai, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Kano University of Technology, Wudil, who is also the Principal Consultant, Center for Agro Entrepreneurship and Development, who visited the project office in the state capital.

“As you may be aware, this project is funded mainly by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund, LLF, and it aims to improve livelihoods for the target groups by helping farmers to identify and manage their own development needs, improving livestock production and improving marketing systems and infrastructure for grains and livestock products”.

“This project will, among other things, pay attention to some relevant cross-cutting issues such as private sector involvement and strengthening of existing institutions to improve services to farmers and herders. It may interest you to note that women and youth will be a particular focus of this project”.

Malam Ibrahim Garba, therefore assured that the project was ready to work closely with all stakeholders, governmental and non-governmental agencies and the private sector to ensure that the project’s mission and vision are achieved.

In his remarks, Prof. Musa Tukur Yakasai explained that the Center for Agro Entrepreneurship and Development, is engaged in agribusiness and general entrepreneurship and livelihood training of especially women, youth and other vulnerable groups, to take advantage of the enormous goldmines that abound in agriculture and environmental management, for sustainable national development.

“We provide our trainees with hands-on skills and competencies needed to meet the demand of the fast changing agricultural value chain and agribusiness systems for sustainable food security and economic development”, he stated.

In this regard, Prof. Yakasai said the visit to the Kano Agro Pastoral Project office was to explore ways of mutual cooperation with his center, especially in the area of capacity building for he projects target beneficiaries.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

4^th June, 2020

A 20 – MAN Steering Committee has been inaugurated for the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP.

The Project is a $95 million project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). It focuses on improving crop production and enhancing livestock productivity in the state, even as its overall objective is to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and food security.

In a message to the inauguration, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna explained “that the project emphasizes enhancement of agricultural production, productivity and competitiveness of both crop and livestock, with expected reduction in the number of people living below the poverty line in the state”.

“In quantitative terms, it aims to improve the living conditions of over 1, 260, 000 million people across the 44 local government areas of Kano state, and that is quite a large number of people”, he added.

Dr. Gawuna, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Mal. Adamu Abdu Faragai, hinted that the project also aims to address incessant conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.

“The project will initiate an unprecedented development momentum in Kano. As it unfolds, it will have tremendous positive impact on our environment and will contribute immensely towards improving the management of our natural resources”, he affirmed.

On the Steering committee, Dr. Gawuna disclosed that “it is a significant component of the project management that will serve as an advisory body, comprising stakeholders. It will review project annual work plans and budget, implementation progress reports and provide guidance on different issues that could affect the project”.

“The committee will meet twice a year in the first three years of the project and once a year in the subsequent two years. However, extraordinary meetings of the committee can be held whenever the need arises”, he added.

The Deputy Governor expressed optimism that the steering committee will work closely with the Project Executing Agency, the Project Management Unit and other stakeholders to guarantee the project’s sustainability.

Members of the PSC which is to be chaired by the State Deputy Governor, in his capacity as Commissioner for Agriculture, include the Chairman, State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, the Director-General, Rural Access and Mobility Project, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Justice, Finance, Environment, Budget and Economic Planning, KNARDA, and the Project Management Unit.

Others are one representative each from Crop Farmers Associations, Milk Processors Association, L&Z Farms Nig. Ltd, Cattle Herders Association, Butchers Association and the Kano State Grazing Reserves Management Committee.

Responding on behalf of the members, the state Project Coordinator, KSADP, who is also the secretary of the steering committee, Mal. Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, pledged that they would work as a team to make the set goals achievable.  

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist