Kano targets 1.2 million farmers for agro-pastoral project

The Kano State Government has targeted 1.2 million farmers to benefit from the State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), a project supported by Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The state Deputy Governor, who is also the state commissioner of agriculture, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, disclosed this in Kano that, the five-year project would assist in boosting agricultural productivity and livestock production in the state.

“More than 200,000 farmers so far have benefitted from the programme. We provided them with improved seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals, in most cases free of charge.”

According to him, the project would assist in reducing poverty among people, including settling herdsmen at Dansoshiya forest in the state.

“We are going to establish an international market for meat and milk to boost livestock production. The government has already commenced construction work in the forest, settling them in one place will address farmers/herdsmen clashes.

“We will construct dams that will serve as watering points for their animals in the forest. We are also constructing schools for the nomads’ children, as well as, clinics and veterinary clinics to improve their living conditions,” he added.

The deputy governor also said that, about 5,000 farmers had been screened by the government to benefit from another project to be implemented in collaboration with Sasakawa.

“We have trained over 50,000 farmers on modern farming techniques and provided some of them with tractors on ownership basis to boost agricultural mechanization.

“We formed the farmers into associations and linked them to tractor hire purchase groups so that they can even go out of the state to work and make money,” he said.

Over 400 female farmers were also trained on tomato production, using new Greenhouse technology with a view to improve their livelihoods.

He added that the government had selected 1, 700 youths and women to enjoy its support in poultry and fish farming, and that out of them, 100 were Physically Challenged Persons.

The deputy governor noted that the administration would continue to accord agriculture as a top priority for improved productivity and poverty reduction among the people.

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Zainab/Today