The Kano State Government and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) have shared success stories of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), which aims to support the state government’s efforts to promote inclusive economic growth.
The KSADP, a $90 million, five-year project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) and the Kano State government, is being implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Nigeria. The project seeks to transform smallholder farming into commercially viable businesses by developing commodity value chains to reduce rural poverty, food insecurity and unemployment.
During a high-level workshop on “Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the KSADP” held at the Kano State Government House, SAA country director, Dr. Godwin Atser noted the significant strides the project has made in enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of cereals and vegetables under the crop value chains component. He emphasised that the project is positively impacting agriculture and improving the livelihoods of farmers in Kano State.
Atser highlighted that farmers under the project have recorded spectacular yield increases—over 100 per cent on all targeted commodities, including rice, maize, sorghum and millet.
“Yield increases and value-adding activities have led to higher incomes for participating farmers, ranging from $100 to $800 per hectare, depending on the chosen crop value chain. About 854 frontline extension personnel have been trained on various aspects of the value chain, equipped with 220 motorcycles and 380 tablets for data collection, and provided with monthly stipends,” he said.
He added that the project has established and supported 5,348 clusters with capacity-building initiatives and inputs for grain and vegetable production. It also strengthened 1,237 clusters within the seed system, established 54 agro-processing centers, three parabolic vegetable solar drying centers, and 23 onion solar drying facilities. The benefiting communities have received training and empowerment packages, enhancing linkages between primary producers and input/output market actors across the value chains.
Atser outlined the objectives of the workshop, which included showcasing the achievements and impact of KSADP’s value chain interventions, supporting other state governments and countries in accessing IsDB funding, sharing lessons learned and best practices with stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration and highlighting the roles of donor agencies like IsDB and the Kano State government in promoting agricultural development. The workshop also explored potential partnerships and funding opportunities for future projects.
Speaking at the event, chairman of the SAA Board of Directors, Dr. Amit Roy stated that KSADP serves as a shining example of how partnerships between governments, international organisations and technical experts can lead to sustainable change. He reaffirmed SAA’s commitment to fostering innovation and resilience in agriculture through the use of new technologies.
“Today’s gathering, as we celebrate the success of the KSADP, feels like a testament to the strong partnership behind this project. KSADP, a collaboration between the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund and the Kano State government, focuses on developing resilient agro-pastoral systems. As we will discuss later in this symposium, the project has already achieved significant milestones and SAA is proud to be a technical partner in implementing its crop value chain component. This collaboration addresses challenges such as low agricultural productivity, poor soils and the effects of climate change,” Roy stated.
In his goodwill message, head of agriculture, water resources and rural development for the Global Practice at IsDB, Dr. Nizar Zaied emphasised that the subject of the workshop was crucial not only for Kano State and Nigeria but also for the entire African continent. He stressed the importance of transforming agriculture to achieve food security across Africa.
“The current situation is sobering: in 2019, our continent spent $43 billion on food imports, and this figure is expected to rise to $110 billion by 2025. Despite Africa possessing 60 per cent of the world’s available arable land and a growing young population to work it, our agriculture remains inefficient. For example, cereal yields in Africa are half of those in India and only a fifth of those in the U.S.,” Zaied noted.
He expressed optimism about Africa’s potential to become a global agricultural hub through the adoption of improved seed varieties and the strategic use of fertilizers. He emphasised that Nigeria, with its large population, is well-positioned to lead this transformation.
Earlier, in his keynote address, Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, represented by the deputy governor, Alhaji Aminu Gwarzo commended the KSADP project for providing a motive for his administration to prioritise agriculture and its related sectors, including commerce and the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Yusuf noted that the high-level workshop, titled “Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the KSADP,” came at a crucial time as the state government refines its plans to advance agricultural development.
“The workshop will offer a platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned, allowing us to align our strategies for advancing modern agricultural interventions. The discussions and outcomes from this gathering of international experts and hands-on practitioners will help push our agricultural sector forward, support income generation and ensure food security,” the governor stated.
He added that the project exemplifies how agriculture, when integrated with commerce, can become a central pillar of the state’s development blueprint.
In closing, the governor reiterated the state’s commitment to supporting projects like KSADP and collaborating with international partners to ensure sustainable agricultural growth that can address poverty, unemployment and food insecurity across the state.
