The Kano State Agricultural Development Project (KSADP) in collaboration with Sasakawa Africa Association on Saturday distributed inputs to 5,500 farmers to encourage wet season activities.
The state Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, said this at the inauguration of the inputs distribution exercise in Kano.
He said the government was providing the inputs to the beneficiaries through the Agricultural Mechanisation and Extension Services delivery support project initiated by the KSADP.
Gawuna said the project targetted about 450,000 youth and women to create jobs and enhance effective utilisation of agricultural resources in the state.
“The mechanisation project is a milestone to ensure food security in the state, which is witnessing fast-growing population, create jobs for the youth and women as well as provide raw materials for industries.
“This will change the traditional agricultural pattern from subsistence to a major agricultural venture,” he said.
Gawuna, who is also the commissioner for agriculture, said the project was designed to enhance food security, encourage agricultural productivity and reduce unemployment in the state.
Earlier, Prof. Sani Miko, Country Director, Sasakawa Africa Association, reitrated commitment towards accelerating agricultural productivity and competitiveness through increased farmer access to inputs.
“The project strengthened seed system by injecting 20 metric tons of foundation seeds and 1,300 certified high-quality seeds in collaboration with IITA, ICRISAT and eight consortium seed companies, to ensure diffusion across every nook and crannies of the state.
“Some 977 clusters with 114,719 farmers from 20 local government areas have been established,” he said.
According to him, small holder farmers are receiving support through farmer learning platforms in the areas of crop production enhancement, input support, post-harvest handling, agro-processing, business development and enterprising management.
The association, he said, targeted 270,000 farmers this year accross the 44 LGAs of the state while 11,800 of the farmers were participating in the improved vegetable production, processing and enterprise skills training programme.
He said that about 58,000 farmers were being trained on cereal crop production, adding that the scope of the programme would be expanded to cover wet season farmers.
Miko said the association would scaled up its interventions in the next four years, to address the root causes of low productivity and conflicts due to irregular migration in the state and the country at large. nan
