Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has awarded contract worth N68, 652, 601. 21, for the construction of a Veterinary Reference laboratory at Gwale Vet Clinic, in Kano.

Veterinary reference laboratories are service facilities where several vital functions related to veterinary sciences, such as the diagnosis, determination of treatment options, prevention, and monitoring of animal diseases are undertaken.

The laboratory plays key role in animal health protection by preventing and controlling livestock diseases. Vet reference laboratories have major implications on human health because of the animal to human transmission of diseases.

Contract for the Kano Vet laboratory was awarded to an indigenous firm, Golden Ripples Construction Company Nigeria Limited, with a completion period of 12 months.

Shortly after signing the contract documents, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad highlighted that “the project, which is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria, is aimed at securing both livestock and human health, in view of the large population of livestock and the increasing demand for animal-derived foods in the state”.

“When completed, the facility will not only serve Kano but all the neighboring states it will drastically cut the cost of managing animal health problems in our communities”, he said.

According to Malam Ibrahim, “one of the key activities of the KSADP is to enhance livestock health, productivity and production enhancement, and this intervention is one of the activities in that regard”.

The Managing Director, Golden Ripples Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Alkali promised that professional standards will be adhered to in executing the work, assuring that the edifice will be a model for other states.

While handing over the site for construction of the Veterinary laboratory, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Balarabe Hassan Karaye charged the contractor to deliver qualitative work promptly.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

27th April, 2022

Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, on Saturday, launched the distribution of agricultural pre – and post – harvest mechanization and extension services support worth millions of Naira, under the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) – Sasakawa Africa Association Crop Value Chain Intervention.

The items presented to the targeted 5, 500 smallholder farmers, through their 220 groups, include 244 water pumps, 140 simple planters, 97 rice trans planters, 9 rice mills, 9 destoners, 9 Hammer mills, 9 maize hullers, 9 power tillers, 15 maize shellers, 45 sets of parboiling kits and 6 rice threshers.

110 brand new motorcycles were also presented to KSADP’s Extension Agents, to facilitate dissemination of information, education and improved technologies at the right time to the farmers’ door steps across the intervention communities.

Dr. Gawuna said the initiative is intended to proactively improve agriculture in the state through mechanization and provision of extension services support to the teeming farmers.

“The core objective of this gesture is to encourage large scale food production in neighboring clusters, towards achieving food security and increased income for the smallholder farmers in the state, which remains a top priority of this government”, he emphasized.

While expressing satisfaction with the KSADP-SAA technical cooperation, the Deputy Governor maintained that “if this type of partnership can be sustained, the result would be a more effective approach of delivering new, simple and cost-effective technologies and extension programs to serve the needs of all groups of farmers in the state”.

Dr. Gawuna enjoined farmers to embrace better farming systems introduced by the government with the support of development partners such as the Islamic Development Bank, and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, through KSADP, to make their livelihoods better and the state’s economy less dependent on the Federation Account.

Sasakawa Africa Association, SAA, Country Director, Prof. Sani Miko described the KSADP-Sasakawa cooperation as a huge success story, because of the substantial increase in yield for all crops; Rice, 100 percent, Maize, 60 percent, Sorghum, 20 percent and Millet, 80 percent, among the beneficiaries, as compared with their production capacity before the project intervention, with corresponding increase in incomes.

He assured that this stride will continue so as to enhance agricultural competiveness in the state, stressing that this year alone, 270, 000 farmers will be supported.

“Already, 11, 800 out of the networked farmers are undergoing improved vegetable production training, processing and marketing enterprise skills, while 58, 000 farmers are receiving different capacity building programmes and support in the area of dry season cereals production. The balance will be reached by wet season”, he added.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, revealed that the project will unfold several interventions this year in line with its objective to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in the state by developing agro-pastoral production systems.

It could be recalled that in August 2020, Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, signed a multimillion dollar Memoranda of Understanding, MOU, with Sasakawa Africa Association, for interventions in crops value chain, aimed at impacting about 450, 000 small holder farmers, over a period of five years.

The collaboration aims to enhance food security, alleviate poverty and create jobs, among other things, in rural communities in Kano.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

16th April, 2022

Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, is set launch a multi million Naira domestic animal fattening schemes designed to ensure a viable livestock sector in the state.

“The scheme, which is the first of its kind in Kano aims to enhance food security and improve incomes for especially youth and women”, the State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba announced.

Animal resources are important assets that support the livelihoods of many rural dwellers and herders in the state but their full potentials are yet to be exploited.

“Basically, the initiative involves supporting people to engage in cattle fattening, small ruminants fattening and small ruminants’ reproduction schemes, with some level of private sector participation, under which local breeds of cattle, rams and goats will be procured, fattened for a certain period and sold for profit”.

Malam Ibrahim made this known while receiving executive members of Abim All Season Farmers Multi Purpose Cooperative Society, led by its Deputy President, Alh. Maje Kurawa, at the KSADP office in Kano.

He explained that an online portal has been designed and launched for the fattening schemes, for interested citizens to subscribe, adding that the move is a step towards improving livestock management for better nutrition and improved income.

Besides, the Coordinator stated that the project will invest in other livestock related activities including fodder production, grazing reserve development, improving animal health services and construction of about 200 milk collection centers.

Malam Ibrahim further revealed that the KSADP is working with Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA and Sasakawa Africa, SSA to create unprecedented impact in the area of agriculture, particularly crops and legumes production in the state.

“This project is determined to work with organized farmers’ cooperatives such as your own, to achieve our target of contributing to reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutrition security in the state by developing agro-pastoral production systems”.

The leader of the delegation, Alh. Maje Kurawa, said the visit was to seek more information on the activities of the project and to consider the possibility of a synergy for mutual advantage.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

2/4/2022

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, on Saturday launched the Kadawa Animal Insemination Center, renovated and equipped by the Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, at the cost of over N103 million.

The project also replenished the AI center with five exotic bulls worth N9. 2 million, with the intention to inseminate at least 25, 000 cows annually.

In artificial insemination, semen of bulls of superior quality is collected and used to inseminate females to conceive offspring with desired traits, such as high milk yield and disease resistance.

Many pastoralists and livestock breeders in the Kano state, like elsewhere in Nigeria, are traditionalists with little or no knowledge of the benefits of breeding through AI.

However, experts are of the opinion that extensive acceptance of AI not only in Kano but the whole of Nigeria would result in the development of a more productive cattle population. At the moment, Nigerian cows produces an average of one litre of milk a day which is a small quantity compared to cows in the UK for example, where cows yield 22 litres per day on average.

During the ceremony which was attended by high profile stakeholders in the dairy sector, including pastoralists associations, Governor Ganduje stated that “this is aimed at achieving genetic improvement of our local cattle for productivity, thereby significantly improving the income of our herdsmen and mitigating the population’s nutrition challenges”.

The governor said his administration is promoting AI as part of deliberate moves to change herdsmanship from a socio-cultural activity to a socio-economic venture, in tandem with prevailing realities across the globe.

“We are immensely grateful to the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, LLF, not only for this AI Center but for many other projects across the state, in which they invested resources, with the aim of addressing the challenges of poverty, food security and unemployment facing our people”, he concluded.

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Olaniyan Alabi, represented by Dr. Gana, praised the Gnaduje administration for its commitment and love for the livestock sub-sector, saying it is in line with the Federal Government’s dedication to transforming the sector for enhanced productivity and improved livelihoods of livestock value chain actors.

The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, said his project, which is funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, revived the AI Center as part of wide-scale initiatives to deepen agro-pastoral productivity and production enhancement.

Such include breed improvement, livestock productivity and production enhancement, commercial fodder production, crop residue utilization from emerging sources, establishment of fodder banks, improving animal health services, upgrade of 20 slaughter houses and establishment of 200 milk collection centers.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

26th February, 2022

Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has launched the 2022 free, mass livestock campaign, targeting 1, 025, 000 cattle and 750, 000 goats and sheep, in Kano, expected to gulp N170, 440, 870.

Funds for the exercise were provided by the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, LLF, through the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, ISFD, the poverty alleviation arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, for purchase of vaccines, consumables, training and logistics, among others.

The objective is to protect the livestock from Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, CBPP, and Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR, major diseases challenging their productivity and health. It is also to improve the livestock’s overall quality of life, prevent economic loss and promote human health.

Nigeria is one of the five leading livestock producers in sub-Saharan Africa and livestock plays a significant role in the nation’s economy, contributing over 20% of the total agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). A significant number of the country’s estimated 20.7 million cattle, 43.4 million sheep, 76 million goats are found in Kano, apparently owing to the states’ relative peace.

Flagging-off the exercise at Kadawa, Garun Mallam local government area, Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje noted that majority of peasants in the state depend on domestic livestock, especially cattle, sheep and goats, not just as a source of food but as a source of income, adding that outbreak of livestock diseases is capable of devastating their livelihoods.

“It is gratifying to note that from the data available to us so far, the CBPP and PPR vaccination exercise conducted last year was very successful as 701, 042 Cattle and 663,570 sheep and goats were vaccinated. I did not receive information on outbreak of CBPP and PPR in Kano last year but, we are not relenting in our effort”, the governor maintained.

“I wish to express profound appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds. Without their moral and material support, this activity would not have taken place. These organizations have invested heavily in the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, making it easier for us to attain our objective of transforming the agricultural sector, thereby making life better for our people”.

The State Project Coordinator, Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad highlighted that the 220 Community Animal Health Workers engaged by the KSADP, 30 International Committee for Red Cross supported Community Animal Health Workers and 880 inoculators would conduct the exercise, under the supervision of 41 veterinary doctors.

He added that the vaccination, which would be conducted jointly with the State Ministry of Agriculture, would last four weeks, stressing that more personnel than those of last year were engaged, to widen impact of the exercise.

Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje, used the occasion to inaugurate the 220 Community Animal Health Workers engaged by the KSADP and supported with kits worth N70. 6 million, containing basic equipment and drugs, to enable them offer basic animal health services in their localities. In return for such services, they will charge fees to restock and make a living.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

26th February, 2022

Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has awarded contract worth N56, 450, 000 for design and supervision consultancy services, for improvement of 20 slaughter houses across Kano state.

The contract, which was awarded to Phoenix Associates Ltd., involves several tasks including accomplishing engineering and design studies for provision of drainage facilities, hygienic slabs, watering facilities and meat storage facilities.

According to the contract document, three months were set aside for the design, while nine months is the scheduled time for works supervision.

Shortly after the signing the award documents, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro–Pastoral Development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, stated that the project was borne out of the desire to address environmental and public health challenges, arising from the poor condition of public slaughter houses.

“Old slaughtering facilities, inadequate water supply, poor storage system and lack of facilities for waste disposal are some of the problems that have resulted in the bad shape of our slaughter houses”, he remarked.

Animal wastes such as blood, intestinal content, bones, tissues, hides and skin are heaped or burnt indiscriminately in and around the slaughter houses, while meat is handled under unhygienic conditions, thereby posing threats to the environment and human life.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

25th February, 2022

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, in conjunction with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, have concluded arrangement for the launch of a massive cattle and small ruminants vaccination campaign.

The objective is to protect the livestock from highly contagious and deadly diseases, improve the animals’ overall quality of life, prevent economic loss and promote human health.

The exercise will be formally flagged-off by the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, tomorrow Saturday, at Kadawa, Garun Mallam local government area, by Nine o’clock in the morning.

Subsequently, the vaccination will continue simultaneously for four consecutive weeks across the 44 local government areas of the state.

Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, is funded by the Islamic Development Bank, Lives and Livelihood Funds, LLF and the government of Kano state.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

25th February, 2022

The Planned construction of 200 Milk Collect Centers in Kano State by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, is aimed at strengthening the diary sector and improving the lives and livelihoods of pastoralists, particularly women.

The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad stated this during the opening of a multi stakeholders meeting on the milk collection centers, in Kano city, highlighting that the project is funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund, LLF.

“This is a significant step in milk value chain development that will empower our herdsmen, especially women, through ensuring milk quality, hygiene and profitability”.

“With this development, which will also create linkages with major uptakers, women, the key players in milk collection and marketing will no longer risk their lives by traveling for several kilometers to large towns, to sell their milk at cheap prices, because the quality is compromised due to deficiencies in collection, storage and transportation”.

He said with improved milk collection, storage and marketing initiatives, the pastoralists and the government would generate better income and help in curtailing Federal government’s spending on milk and milk products import.

Malam Ibrahim explained that out of the 200 milk collection centers to be constructed by the KSADP, 40 will be built and equipped across 15 local government areas of the state, this year.

The Project Coordinator added that the MCCs will be located in areas that are accessible and safe for the pastoralists, while the local milk cooperative societies will be trained for sustainable management of the centers.

Giving technical details, the consulting firm engaged for the project, Teamwork Global Associates, represented by the duo of Professor Peter Barje and Engr. Danladi Ebbah, highlighted that explained that each MCC will be built on a full plot consisting of the latest quality assurance kits, cooling facilities, water tank, solar energy facility, feed store, vet medicine store and office among other things.

They also mentioned that training would be given to the milk cooperative societies in each area on milk handling and financial management for sustainability.

Hajiya Aisha Muhammad Abubakar, the National Women Leader, MACBAN, requested that women should play a key role in managing the MCCs because of the roles the play in the dairy value chain from milking to marketing.

Other stakeholders who made presentations or raised issues during the meeting including traditional leaders, pastoralists associations, milk marketers and government officials dwelt on land acquisition matters, sustainability and management of the MCCs, among other things.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

9th February, 2022

Provision of modern infrastructure at Dawanau International Grains market, in Kano state, will upgrade its status and enhance socio-economic activities in the state, the State Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba has assured.

Currently, the market, which is the largest grains market in the West African sub-region, lacks infrastructural facilities, to the extent that its growth and development are being challenged.

The Project Coordinator, made the assertion during the formal handing over of the market site to Akam Consultant Ltd., the company engaged to conduct design and supervision services, for provision of infrastructure at the market.

The consultancy was awarded barely two weeks ago, by Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, purposely for design and supervision of the construction of drainage facilities, main roads and secondary access roads, electrification, provision of toilet facilities, market information system, police outpost, Mosque, offices and conference room, at the cost of N29, 775, 000.

“The planned intervention will help to standardize the physical outlook of the market and promote ease of doing business, thereby attracting more patronage for the market, among other advantages”.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kano Sate Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Dr. Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad, said the state government is interested in transforming the market because of its position in the scheme of economic affairs, pointing out that the intended SAPZ project in Kano and the Kano-Maradi railway line will add impetus to the transformation initiatives.

The Caretaker Chairman, Dawanau Market Association, Alh. Muhammad Sani Ahmad, the Sarkin Kasuwa and representatives of various commodity associations, who witnessed the occasion, were full of gratitude to the government of Kano State and the Islamic Development Bank, for the interventions, intended to change the face of the market for good.

In a related activity, the KSADP has formally handed over five Cattle markets in Kano, to the consultants engaged for design and supervision of civil works, for upgrade of the markets.

During a symbolic and short occasion held at Dambatta Cattle market, the, the KSADP Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba, stated that the markets scheduled for improvement are Danbatta, Wudil, Gwarzo, Falgore and Dunbulum, to reduce loss of value in marketed animals, including reduction of mortality during transportation.

“The consultancy work for the improvement of the cattle markets was awarded to Emwai Consult Ltd., at the cost of N22, 876, 525. 75.”.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

2nd February, 2022

Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has awarded consultancy services contracts, totaling N291, 302, 229. 75, for design and supervision of some projects in parts of Kano state.

Consultancy for design and supervision services for development of commercial large scale fodder was awarded to Hamjik Agric Plus at the cost of N120, 610, 000, even as development of 1, 950 kilometers of major and minor stock routes, was awarded to the same firm at N108, 380, 000.

Akam Consultant Ltd. was awarded the consultancy for the provision of assorted infrastructure at Dawanau International Grains market at N29, 775, 000, Emwai Consult Ltd., improvement of five cattle markets at the cost of N22, 876, 525. 75, while consultancy for milk storage facility for Milk Products Marketers Association will be handled by Kristal Engineering Associates Ltd, at N9, 660, 704.

Shortly after signing the contract award letters, the State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad stated that the process is part the project’s commitment to commence execution of major civil works this year.

“The consultants were selected based on competence, to provide complete technical task comprising survey/design services and provide quality management services, through monitoring and evaluation work executed by contractors, so that they meet the required standards”.

“Although the design and supervision consultancies are distinct, they are interrelated because they are all geared towards bringing about change in agro-pastoralism in Kano state”.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, the executing agency of KSADP, Dr. Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad, expressed satisfaction that the project’s activities have gathered momentum, urging the consultants engaged to justify the confidence reposed in them, by providing excellent services that will lead to achieving the project’s objectives.

Ameen K. Yassar

Project Communication Specialist

25th January, 2022