SAA/KSADP unveils media field, showcases success stories

Enhancing food security and agricultural value chain, one of the critical targets of the Federal Government has begun yielding positive results in Kano with the implementation of a multi-million dollars intervention fund attracted by the state government under the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP).

The $95million KSADP project is being funded by Islamic Development Bank and Life and Livelihood Fund to boost livestock and animal production, enhance irrigation farming, promote climate-smart agric production and provide technologies and innovation for crop production through the multiplication of value addition, as well as expanding the capacity of smallholder farmers in modern farming techniques in Kano.

Sasakawa, an international agricultural value addition organisation; is selected to work with KSADP for the implementation of the crop value chain component of the project, a segment that accounts for 20 per cent of the entire budget stream. SAA/KSADP, therefore, targeted about 450,000 beneficiaries including extension agents and smallholder farmers to provide technical services for the next five years the project lasted.

Addressing journalists at the opening of SAA/KSADP media field day at the weekend in Kano, the Deputy Country Director, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Dr. Abdulhamid Gambo explained that implementation of the first phase which effectively began in early 2021 covers 20 local government of the state.

Dr. Abdulhamid emphasised the SAA/KSADP workability currently in its first year entails all value chains of the targeted crops (Rice, Maize, Sorghum) to include production, processing and market linkages. Besides, the deputy country director SAA stressed that beneficiaries are also being supported with capacity building on modern best quality methods and processes of farming production and provision of farm inputs, at no cost.

According to him, “You are aware that this project effectively commenced in the early year 2021 and for the Sasakawa areas of implementation, we have segmented the entire local government areas into phases. The first phase commenced with 20 local government areas where the implementation of all the value chains was carried out. In line with our mandate, SAA is providing technical support to smallholder farmers to lift them out of poverty. We are equally working with other technical agencies to provide agric extension workers while collaborating with other critical international agro agencies on research and technologies to support farmers.

“We are supporting farmers with modern knowledge and proper application of input that is from the production stage. At the processing level, we are supporting clusters of women farmers on how to use modern technologies while processing raw material while equipping them with value addition on how to transform the crops to several products, and how to package their products to gain market share. On post-harvest, farmers are equally trained to reduce post-harvest loss and proper storage knowledge. The project has also provided market linkage through dedicated aggregate centres and financial support is also provided,” Dr. Abdulhamid explained.

He disclosed that the media field was organised to showcase the activities of project implementation in the last one year and to measure successes and impact made so far. Dr. Abdulhamid explained that the event enables selected media outfits to interact with the beneficiaries on the field to share experiences.

According to him, “ the event will allow the media to assess and document the level of KSADP/SAA implementation of the project. You will be able to hear from the beneficiaries about the improved technologies that are being promoted. At the same time, the visit to the farmers in places like Bunkure, Warawa, Garun-Mallam and Gwarzo, would also enable you to tell the success stories to the general public about the positive impact of the intervention in the public.”

On his part, the SAA/KSADP project Coordinator, Abdlrasheed Hamisu declared that beyond the expected target, the implementation plan has captured over 114,000 smallholders farmers across the 20 local government areas where the first phase of execution of plans are being carried out.

Apart from agronomical training support, the project coordinator told journalists that a special focus on seed multiplication was being carried out. He said few seed companies with a record of quality products are being engaged to multiply hybrid and improved varieties for farmers. Already, he noted that 1, 636 improved seeds have been distributed to farmers.