Centre sets target to address challenges in Dryland Agriculture in Africa

The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, has set target to address the challenges bedeviling Dryland Agriculture in Africa, as it affects food production and security.

While revealing that CDA has trained over 530 PhD and Msc students, majority of whom were drawn from 15 African countries, he added that there are several formidable network of partnership with international and regional institutions with common interest. 
 
“The Centre plans to establish a regional Innovation, training and entrepreneurship hub where youths will be trained in modern intensive agriculture and bio-resource entrepreneurship.

“This is aimed at facilitating the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises that will help in alleviating poverty and improve livelihood of the inhabitants of the sub-region.”
 
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, represented by deputy Vice Chancellor Administration and Establishment, Professor Mahmoud Umar Sani, revealed that the international recognition BUK earned through the CDA, from the World Bank and French Agency for Development AGD is in the region of $5m.
 
The Vice Chancellor added that while the CDA remains a regional centre of excellence through consistent innovation and technological development, he assured of the university’s readiness to support the CDA with necessary atmosphere that will enable it to strive to greater heights.

Part of the activities featured at the open day include exhibition of farm produce of the CDA and other agricultural revolution facilitated by the regional centre of excellence.

The occasion also witnessed reward for hard work and excellent performance of both junior and senior staff with awards presentations. Similarly, the CDA used the occasion to reward five young entrepreneurs who showcased best agribusiness plan and investment model pitch in the maiden edition of its AgriHacking 1.0 programme held earlier.