Ganduje unveils $95m agro-pastoral project

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday inaugurated a $95 million Agro-Pastoral Development project, a flagship programme anchored on food security and social development.

The project, which would be implemented in five years, would help reduce poverty and strengthen food security in the state through the development of agro-pastoral production systems.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in partnership with the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) a development initiative through which the bank and other organisations provide concessional financing to its member countries will be financing the project.

Speaking during the commencement of the project at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, Ganduje said it was aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and competitiveness through access to input and credit, value addition and market access, delivery of extension services delivery capacity building.

“The KSADP will provide the much–needed solution to farmer-herder conflicts, unfettered nomadism and enhance the development of pastoral communities.

“It is only a project like this that can curb farmers–herders clashes and security risks, improve farm yields, accelerate livestock production through adoption of modern best practices to generally improve the economic potentials of our small holder farmers.

“The project will improve herdsmen’s capacity to produce and process more milk and pave way for quality beef production. We believe that because of the security implication of nomadic lifestyles such as farmer-herders clashes and the fact that the old system of cattle rearing is more cultural than economical, things must change”, Ganduje said.

He assured that the state government would ensure the timely release of its counterpart fund of $5 million to facilitate smooth implementation of the project.

Speaking, Manager, Regional Hub, Abuja of the Islamic Development Bank, Mayoro Niang, explained that the project was aligned with the bank President’s five-year plan and Federal Government’s Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Strategy.

“This five-year project will contribute to poverty reduction and strengthen food and nutrition security of the vulnerable population in Kano State through sustainable development of livestock and crop selected value chains,” he stressed.

On the workshop, Niang said it was to ensure that the quality of the project was maintained and to guarantee proper orientation on its specifics under the bank’s applicable policies and procedures.

Responding, Jena Jacques of the LLF said his organisation, a partner of the IDB Group, was glad to work with the Kano State Government to make a positive impact on the lives of the poor.