Kano: Sasakawa To Spend $19.3 Million To Develop Farming

The Sasakawa Africa Association implementing the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project is set to provide agricultural interventions worth 19.23 million US dollars in the state.

The project implemented in partnership with Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, was funded with the support of the state government, ISDB and LLF.

The Project Coordinator, Abdulrashid Kofar-Mata, said this on Thursday while addressing rural farmers in Kiru, Garun-Malam, Bunkure and Rano Local Government Areas on the year three community entry and sensitization activities of the project.

“The interventions target 450, 000 smallholder cereal and vegetable farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state, for a period of five years

“We have so far supported and equipped 270,719 smallholder farmers with basic agricultural knowledge and modern farming inputs.

“The focus of the interventions is on equipping smallholder farmers, extension agents, agro-processors and post-harvest handling service providers.

“With knowledge and skills on improved production, post-harvest and agro-processing practices and technologies as well as creating effective input and output market linkages, towards increasing outcomes for beneficiaries.”

He said that the overall aim was to transform smallholder farming to commercially viable businesses by developing commodity value chains to reduce rural poverty, food insecurity and unemployment.

Meanwhile, some rice farmers in Kiru and Bunkure local government areas have commended the state government and Sasakawa for various interventions which helped to improve rice production in the state.

They also appreciated the donation of rice milling and de-stoner machines to enhance rice processing.