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Agriculture: Ganduje Empowers 16,010 Farmers

From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano


Kano state government in collaboration with development partners on Thursday, put smiles on the faces of 16, 010 farmers, mostly young men and women who received several levels of empowerment in agriculture running into hundreds of millions of Naira.


The event which took place at the premises of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) at the Hotoro axis of Kano metropolis attracted interventions by stakeholders of Agriculture from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Islamic Development Bank, Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS), SASAKAWA Africa Association, Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), among others.


The big event held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture was tagged formal launch/flag-off of the Agricultural Intervention Programmes.


Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje tasked the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the empowerment opportunities to help themselves, their families and the societies at large.


However, a break-down of the beneficiaries of the programme indicated that about  1,000 were empowered under smallholder farmers under KSADP/KNARDA on legumes value chain intervention, 440 contract spraymen, commissioning of 4 Digital Metrological Stations, supported by KSADP, among others. 


Also, on the KSADP, 3,000 women were empowered on Cattle, Sheep Fattening and Goats Reproductive scheme, 1,000 empowered on Small Scale Commercial Fodder Producers and 1,000 Crip Residue Utilization beneficiaries, among others. 


Others include 5,350 smallholder commercial farmers under SAKAKAWA Africa Assocition and donation of agricultural mechanization pre and post harvest equipment to 85 farmers groups, comprising 2,125 members. 


Under APPEALS, 1,700 women and youths and people with special needs were supported with N2 million each to establish agricultural enterprises, just as 40 groups were empowered on modern gurasa making, a local Hausa stapple with locally-made oven. 


 Ganduje in his remarks further  described the programme as a great milestone towards his administration’s agricultural drive, aimed at creating employment opportunities and providing food security in the state. 
The governor added that the programmes were aimed at improving the livelihood of the farmers, especially the women and peoples with special needs.


He added that the programmes were aimed at improving the livelihood of the farmers, especially the women and peoples with special needs. 


Ganduje appreciated the partners, especially the SASAKAWA, and APPEALS, for their interventions towards agricultural revolution in the state, saying “thank you for your support and listening to our appeals in the development of agriculture in our dear state.”


He assured that the state government would continue to build strong synergy with development partners towards development of agriculture in the state.


According to him,  “this occasion today is a practical occasion. We have seen the intervention from KNARDA, we have seen intervention from KSADP, we have seen intervention from KASAKOWA, we have seen intervention from APPEALS, we have seen scholarship awards to students studying agriculture. 

“Farmers have been assisted with fertilizer. This is a good begining for you. What is now remaining is for you to pass resolution that whatever assistance you get from Kano state government and development partners will be put into good use.


“I expect the beneficiaries to go into action immediately so that they can improve their livelihood and the livelihood of their entire family.”


He commended the provision of E-library for farmers, just as he praised KSADP for providing cattles and other resources for cattle rearers.


“Some two years ago, we sponsored 75 young men and women to Turkey where they studied artificial insemination, and today those young men and women are scattered across the country teaching what they learned in Turkey and they are making money,” he added.

Ganduje further stated that, “the APEALS has answered our appeal and provided N2 million to 1,700 beneficiaries (young men and women) to engage in different types of farming. 


“APPEAL also made a research and found out that there is a special type of food in Kano, Gurasa and they decided to modernize Gurasa production. They provided equipment to modernize Gurasa production in Kano to make it hygienic and nutricious and today Gurasa is being exported from Kano to other parts of the country.


“In Kano, we are encouraging mass production and mass processing. That is why today, Kano is the largest producer of rice in Nigeria. We provide enabling environment to investors, we provide land for them and also we provide enabling environment for marketing so that producers can get good price for their products.


“We have to thank our partners in progress which is the Islamic Development Bank and other stakeholders for their efforts.”

In his speech, the state Deputy Governor who doubles as the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, described Ganduje as, “the governor of the largest agrarian state in the country, the governor of the largest farmers in the country, the governor of the largest democracy in Nigeria, and my mentor.”


He further stated that, “I find it apt to begin by congratulating His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the first position the state ministry of agriculture got recently during an exhibition  in Nassarawa state.


“Since 2015, when you assume office as governor, I was lucky you appointed me as Commissioner for Agriculture. I remember you sat me down with your wisdom and experience and directed me on how we could break the barrier between farmers and the third party. 


“We broke the barrier and what we are seeing today is that all the beneficiaries in our programmes and interventions were chosen by merit. And the farmers are happy.


“Today is a joyous occasion. Because of all these interventions, Kano state has always been chosen among all the state in any project that is coming up.


 “Recently, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the wheat production programme in Jos and Kano state was given the largest share of 50 hectres of land. We are currently discussing with wheat farmers on this.”

He further stated that the Ganduje’s administration has been engaging in partnership with the African Development Bank and other stakeholders to improve agriculture and ensure food security in the state. 
“Another significant stride is our collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank which gave birth the KSADP and today the $95 million project has been realized,” he added.


According to him, “the project has also ensured cattle vaccination and is taking pastorialism to the next level in Kano.


“We have also released counterpart funding to world bank and other partners. Motor cycles and tricycles have been distributed to farmers across the state. About 340 female tomatoes farmers have been empowered to produce tomatoes three times in a year.”


The Deputy Governor, however, reiterated the state government’s commitment  to collaborate with all farmers in the state to ensure food security and large scale agricultural production.


“More agricultural initiatives are on the pipeline. This is just the beginning, Gawuna stated, while  Calling on all the beneficiaries to be mindful and put the resources given to them by the government into good use for the betterment of the people of Kano state. 


“I hope and pray that all the beneficiaries will make maximum use of the resources, train and empower others and make Kano state food sufficient,” he said.

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