Kano Agropastoral Development Project Gears Up For Vegetable Production
The Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), says it has established 150 demo clusters for tomato, onion and cabbage to prepare farmers for vegetable production in the 2023/2024 dry farming season.
Mr Moses Nongoatse, the Communications Officer, KSADP, said this in a statement on Sunday in Kano.
Nongoatse said that the action was part of efforts to ensure sustainable and profitable vegetable production in state.
He said that the project was being funded by the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF).
He said that planters were being distributed to farmers across different farming communities in the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, to enhance their productivity by providing access to efficient planting and fertilizer application equipment.
“The project has established 150 demo clusters of tomato, onion and cabbage in 20 LGAs of the state which would serve as Farmer Learning Platforms (FLPs) during the 2023/2024 dry season,” he said.
He said that the FLPs were established by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), an International Agricultural development organization implementing the crop component of the KSADP.
“The project emphasizes the importance of early preparations, including pre-planting operations, to ensure successful dry season farming operations.
Also The Project Coordinator, KSADP/SAA Mr Abdulrasheed Kofarmata, said that the organisation was committed to promoting vegetable production in the state.
“The establishment of the farmer learning platforms is crucial to equipping farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to optimize crop yields and enhance their livelihoods during the dry season for profitable vegetable farming,” he said.
Kofarmata said that providing hands-on training in dry season vegetable production techniques, aimed at empowering farmers to overcome challenges such as pest and disease attacks, inadequate knowledge and technology, and insufficient post-harvest handling and facilities.
“The KSADP is committed to promoting vegetable production to strengthen Nutrition/food security, boost agricultural productivity, and improve the livelihoods of farmers in Kano State; by combining training, technology transfer, and community engagement.
” We are confident that our comprehensive approach will yield significant benefits for the agricultural sector and the overall well-being of the state.”
Key aspects of the project’s Dry season vegetable production promoted by the SAA regenerative Agriculture strategic intervention pillar include,early planting, quality sourcing, and selection of seeds and timely application of fertilizers.
Others were effective pest and disease control measures and strict adherence to Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).
The programme officer of Regenerative Agriculture SAA/KSADP, Mr Tijjani Tanko, said 150 dry-season vegetable demonstration plots with access to irrigation facilities had been established across 20 out of the 44 LGAs of the state.
“The focus is on tomatoes (100 FLPs), onions (25 FLPs), and cabbage (25 FLPs).
“KSADP/SAA is networking farmers through its 270 extension agents and 540 community-based facilitators for effective technology transfer,” he said.
KSADP is a five-year project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihood Funds (LLF) to revitalize the agricultural sector in Kano State.
NAN/Oyenike Oyeniyi
