The Kano State Government says it has recovered more than 1,200 acres of farmland through the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, as part of efforts to expand agricultural production and strengthen food security.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmud, disclosed this while highlighting the ministry’s achievements, explaining that the government began by establishing a comprehensive farmers’ database to improve agricultural planning, budgeting and coordination with development partners.
Mahmud said the database provided reliable information on the number of farmers across the state, enabling the government and its partners to design interventions based on actual agricultural needs.
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He explained that the ministry also assessed existing irrigation facilities and identified damaged infrastructure requiring rehabilitation at major sites, including Jermambaka, the Kadawa Farmers’ Centre, and Bunkure A and B.
According to the commissioner, the interventions, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, involved clearing irrigation channels and rehabilitating canals, helping to restore more than 1,200 acres of farmland for agricultural activities.
He added that collaboration with the Nigerian Government and the African Development Bank-funded ATAPS project facilitated the recovery of more than 200 additional acres for irrigation.
Mahmud said the state had embarked on a major irrigation project at Donsushia, featuring a dam measuring about two kilometres in length, with an estimated water storage capacity of three billion litres.
The project is expected to provide irrigation infrastructure for about 500 hectares, equivalent to 1,250 acres of farmland.
He disclosed that the 14-kilometre access road constructed to enable heavy equipment to reach the project site had been completed, while construction of the dam had reached approximately 40 per cent.
The irrigation channels are also being expanded beyond their original scope to accommodate more farmland.
In addition to the Donsushia project, the government has secured approval for 11 smaller dams and irrigation schemes across 11 local government areas.
The locations include Anibasu, Kibia, Sumaila, Dogua, Shanono, Dawaikinkudu, Jajai, Irogu, Dichi, Dawaikintufa and Ngugu.
The commissioner said compensation payments had been made in six locations, while contractors had commenced work at some sites, particularly Anibasu.
He explained that the completed projects were expected to provide approximately 2,000 additional acres of irrigable farmland, creating more opportunities for farmers, generating income and reducing rural-to-urban migration.
On agricultural modernisation, Mahmud said the state had made arrangements to provide modern farming equipment, including tractors, threshers, forklifts, combine harvesters, solar-powered irrigation pumps, planters and transplanters.
He said the government, with support from development partners, also planned to provide small and medium-sized rice mills to registered farmers’ cooperatives.
According to him, the smaller rice mills would particularly benefit women, while larger facilities would serve major producers.
The equipment would be distributed free of charge to qualified cooperatives, provided they demonstrated transparency, sound management, regular leadership elections and commitment to business principles.
The commissioner also highlighted livestock empowerment programmes implemented through counterpart funding arrangements between the state and development partners.
He said about 7,800 beneficiaries had received cattle for fattening, with participants also provided with animal feed and veterinary medicines to support the process.
Mahmud disclosed that more than 13,000 beneficiaries had benefited from combined livestock interventions, including women who received three goats each for breeding and reproduction, while young men were supported with two rams each for fattening.
On agricultural inputs, he said the state and local governments had procured nearly 700 truckloads of fertiliser over the last three years for distribution across the state’s 44 local government areas.
He recalled that Governor Yusuf procured more than 54 truckloads of fertiliser from the state-owned fertiliser company in 2024 for free distribution to farmers.
The commissioner said the Nigerian Government provided additional support, including approximately 70 truckloads of different fertiliser varieties in December 2024, while farmers also benefited from a redemption programme involving fertiliser, pesticides, insecticides and improved seeds.
He further acknowledged federal assistance in addressing quelea bird attacks on farmlands, particularly birds reportedly migrating from Yobe State, through aerial spraying operations.
In the livestock sector, Mahmud said more than 70 milk collection centres had been completed with support from the Islamic Development Bank and the state government.
He explained that the facilities were designed to improve milk hygiene and preservation through storage buildings and solar-powered cooling systems.
The government is also preparing to distribute milk transportation containers to the centres to improve the collection and movement of fresh milk from pastoral communities.
The commissioner added that several agricultural aggregation and storage facilities had been completed across the state to enable farmers to preserve their produce and access markets more efficiently.
He said cattle markets in Dumbulu, Falgori, Gorzo, Udil and Lambata had also been upgraded with water supply, veterinary clinics, solar lighting, drainage systems and improved loading facilities.
Similarly, the Dawano grain market had received improvements, including roads, drainage, a police station, solar facilities and water supply.
Mahmud said the state government, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, had also provided about 72 kilometres of agricultural access roads to facilitate the transportation of farm produce to markets and storage centres.
The roads cover several communities, including Gora, Modugi, Daning, Garko, Danguziri in Rogo, Wase, Baita in Minjibir, Dugal, Dambatta, Milgoma and Tuyankasari.
The commissioner further disclosed that the government had recovered control of approximately 480 acres of farmland at the FC facility for public agricultural use.
He said the transfer of the irrigation department from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Agriculture had also strengthened the ministry’s capacity to manage irrigation facilities, including those at Thomas, Dambatta and Jikaradi.
On efforts to address farmers-herders clashes, Mahmud said the government had established and demarcated cattle routes spanning approximately 1,270 kilometres across Kano State.
He maintained that the intervention had contributed to reducing conflicts between farmers and herders to their lowest levels.
The commissioner said the various agricultural interventions were aimed at expanding productive farmland, improving livestock development, supporting rural livelihoods and strengthening Kano State’s capacity to achieve food security.
