Kano State Govt. Supports 5,500 Peasant Farmers with Agro Project Mechanization

By Abdullahi Kano

The Kano State Government has 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 Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasir Yusif Gawuna who doubles as the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Nasir Yusif Gawuna Flagged off the distribution in Kano.

Dr. Nasir Yusif Gawuna said the kano state government was working Assiduously in partnering with relevant stakeholders with aim of boosting food production for enhanced food security.

The Deputy Governor presented mechanized farm inputs to the targeted 5, 500 smallholder farmers, through their 220 groups, 244 water pumps, 140 simple planters, 97 rice transplanters, 9 rice mills, 9 designers, 9 Hammer mills, 9 maize hullers, 9 power tillers, 15 maize shellers, 45 sets of parboiling kits and 6 rice threshers.

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

“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”

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 a corresponding increase in incomes.

He assured that this stride will continue to enhance agricultural competitiveness 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 programs and support in the area of dry season cereals production. The balance will be reached by the wet season”,

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.