Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, on Thursday, unveiled the $95 million dollars Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development project (KSADP), to fast track agricultural activities and food security programme.
Ganduje made the disclosure at the investiture and inauguration of the project’s start-up workshop at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.
He disclosed that the project was financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a development initiative through which the bank and other organizations provide concessional financing to member states.
Ganduje explained that the objectives of the five-year project were to contribute toward poverty reduction and strengthen food security through the development of agro-pastoral production system in the state.
He added that the project also aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity; access to input and credit facilities, extension services, processing, value addition and encourage the growth of agricultural enterprising skill.
“The KSADP will provide the much-needed solution to farmer-herder conflicts, unfettered nomadism as well as enhance the development of pastoral communities.
“I want to believe that it only projects such as this one that can curb farmer – 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 smallholder farmers,” he said.
Ganduje said that the project would also encourage the production of quality beef and milk by livestock farmers.
He added that: “We are of the belief 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 economic, things must change.
“We decided to create Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements in our forests such as Dansoshiya and with the help of the IsDB supported the project, we are going to make them full-fledged grazing reserves”.
According to him, the Dawanau International Grains Market will also be upgraded under the project, to provide essential infrastructure to improve its status as a foremost market in West African sub-region.
The governor reiterated his administration commitment to ensure timely release of counterpart fund of $5 million to facilitate smooth implementation of the project.
Mayoro Niang, Manager IsDB, Regional Hub of Abuja, explained that the project was aligned to the bank President’s five-year plan and the Federal Government’s Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Niang said the five-year project was designed to contribute to poverty reduction and to strengthen food and nutrition security of the vulnerable population in Kano through sustainable development of livestock and selected value chain crop.
Also speaking, representative of the LLF, a partner of IsDB Group, Mr Jean Jacques, said he was glad to work with the Kano state government to make a positive impact on the lives of the people.
Jaques added that the Fund was delighted to support not only Kano State but other IsDB member states to address community health, agriculture and basic infrastructure challenges.
“Our concessional financing comes with obligations including abiding all our rules and regulations, accurate procurement plan, clear disbursement plan and having maximum project impact, among others,” he said.