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

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