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

Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, plans to empower not less than 6, 000 people under its livestock fattening and reproduction schemes, within the next few week.
The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced this during the flag-off of distribution of rams and goats to beneficiaries of its ram fattening and goats reproduction schemes in Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure, Kura, Garun Mallam and Sumaila local government areas.
During a ceremony held at Rano local government, the Project Coordinator explained that vulnerable people especially women and the less privileged would benefit from the scheme, funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds.
“It was envisaged that women and youth in rural communities breed livestock because they serve as a source of food, income and manure among others”, he stated.
“Therefore, the state government is determined to support you with small ruminants, through KSADP, so that your livelihoods can be improved”.
Announcing that the livestock will be given to beneficiaries for free, he explained that those who will get fattening rams will be supported with animal feed and medicaments, while beneficiaries of the goats’ reproduction scheme will not be given such, in view of the availability of goat feed in every community
Malam Ibrahim urged beneficiaries of the program to make good use of the opportunity to improve their economic status, in view of the present economic situation in the country.
He said Community Animal Health Workers have been trained and provided with equipment by the KSADP, to render professional services to them, to minimize livestock health challenges.
One of the beneficiaries, Kala Bunkure thanked the Islamic Development Bank, the LLF and the government of Kano state for bringing succor to them, promising to take good care of the livestock.
Ameen K. Yassar
Project Communication Specialist,
KSADP
8th October, 2023

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state, on Monday, launched agricultural interventions consisting agro processing facilities and farm inputs, for 6, 200 smallholder farmers, through agricultural associations, under the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project/ Sasakawa Africa Association Crop Value chain intervention.
Funded by the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, the Lives and Livelihood Funds, LLF, and the government of Kano state, the support, which aims to strengthen agricultural productivity comprises units of Power tillers, Hammer mills, Rice mills Rice hullers, Rice threshers, Maize threshers, Traddle pumps and Multi crop threshers, among other things.
Equally, the governor flagged off the second phase of Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project’s Ram Fattening and Small Ruminants Reproduction schemes, for 2, 357 women and youths.
Small ruminants play a vital role in the food and nutrition security of millions of poor rural dwellers in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state, serving as sources of meat, milk and skin.
Also launched by the governor during the occasion was the distribution of free Aflasafe, a bioprotectant for use on groundnut farms to reduce aflatoxin contamination, to 1, 200 farmers, under the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project/ KNARDA Legumes Value chain intervention. Aflatoxins can cause liver cancer and other health challenges in human beings.
Speaking during the well attended ceremony in Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the interventions are in tandem with his government’s resolve to improve lives and livelihoods.
“Our target is to achieve food sufficiency and sustained employment generation to our teeming youth through agricultural activities, development of additional cultivable land and increase in livestock production, to make our economy very resilient”, Gov. Abba maintained.
The governor restated his administration’s resolve to revamp agriculture in view of its importance to the economy, the governor expressed appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds for their support towards making life better for citizens of the state.
The Managing Director of KNARDA, Dr. Faruk Kurawa told the governor that target beneficiaries of the interventions are mainly peasants from the 44 local government areas of the state, pointing out the support is a tip of the iceberg, as the state government is committed to improving the well being of the citizenry.
KSADP’s State Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad stressed that since inception, the Kano Agro – Pastoral Development Project invested heavily in sustainable development of livestock and selected crop value chains, pointing out that the objective is to contribute to poverty alleviation and strengthening of food security of low income earners.
Ameen K. Yassar
Project Communication Specialist,
KSADP
4th September, 2023

Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, is to vaccinate at least One million cattle and 800,000 goats and sheep in this year’s annual livestock vaccination campaign, in Kano state.

Funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, the project intends to spend not less than N160 million on the campaign, which aims to enhance livestock health and improve livelihoods of herders and livestock breeders.

The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, disclosed this during the kick-off of community sensitization on the exercise, held that the palace of the district Head of Kura, in Kura local government area of the state.

“The project is determined to upscale the vaccination because livestock health is tied to your livelihoods, and by extension our economy”, the Coordinator stressed.

“The objective of this interaction is to enhance your understanding of the vaccination and to seek cooperation of all stakeholders so that the exercise succeeds”, he added.

Besides the annual vaccination campaign, Malam Ibrahim said the project had embarked upon several projects including the upgrade and equipping of Kadawa Artificial Insemination Center, construction of milk collection centers, upgrade of cattle markets and crop residue utilization program, among others, to improve the livelihood of the herders.

“We shall soon award contract for demarcation of stock routes in Kano, which is major step towards ending conflict between farmers and herders in Kano”, he further revealed.

The District Head of Kura, Dokajin Rano, represented by Alhaji Balarabe Muhammad disclosed that no outbreak of livestock diseases has been reported in the area in the past three years due to consistent vaccination carried out by the KSADP.

He therefore directed village heads and herders’ community leaders in the domain to fully mobilize for the forthcoming vaccination in view of its importance.

In his comments on behalf of herders’ communities in Kura local government, Malam Zubairu Muhammad said they are familiar with livestock vaccination, having benefitted in the past three years, assuring that there will be no resistance to the exercise.

“We have seen the impact of the vaccination conducted in the past, so we appreciate the Islamic Development Bank and the LLF for their untiring support”, he asserted.

Also speaking, the Zonal Veterinary Director for Rano Zone, Dr. Idris Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of the livestock vaccination, suggested that livestock vaccination campaign should include Rabies vaccination, since the herders also possess livestock guardian dogs.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist,

KSADP

3^rd October, 2023