From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Kano State Agro Pastoral Project (KSADP) has budgeted about $95 million to boost agriculture in the state through various sizes of grants to farmers’ cooperative societies.
The Project Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, who hinted this, however, tasked farmers in the state to seize the opportunity to benefit from the largacy through formation of cooperative societies, with clear goals to excel in various agricultural ventures in the state.
He said the KSADP is well disposed to sponsor agricultural services, projects and programmes valued at $95 million in the state.
The AUTHORITY reports that the project, supported by the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, focuses on improving crop production and enhancing livestock productivity in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim also hinted that the Project targets over one million people, mainly smallholder farmers and pastoralists.
He made the assertion while receiving representatives of farmers groups from Zarewa, Rogo local government area, who visited the project’s office in Kano.
According to him, “by forming cooperative societies, your activities will be integrated, it will be easier to access extension and training services and you can simply get farm inputs, while it will facilitate support from financial institutions and the government.
“I want to let you know that the project, through Sasakawa services, will impact on 450,000 farmers of rice and maize selected in 14 LGAs including Rogo, your LGA, providing them with trainings, inputs warehousing and marketing services.
“On the other hand, we have made funds available to KNARDA, to work with 100,000 farmers providing them starter parks, trainings and marketing services, to produce other targeted commodities other than rice and maize.”
Alhaji Ibrahim announced that the project intends to reduce deficit of physical facilities in selected areas and enhance linkages between smallholder farmers and value chains actors, in order to enhance storage, processing and marketing of agricultural commodities.
He added that the project had packaged quite a number of livestock productivity and production enhancement projects and programmes in addition to numerous agro-pastoral empowerment and self employment initiatives focusing on youth.
Speaking on behalf of the Zarewa Farmers Associations, Alhaji Yunusa Bello explained that the visit was to seek information on the project activities and to see how associations from his domain can resourcefully key into them.
