Kano State is set to host a high-level workshop to be chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo focused on agricultural transformation through the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)-funded Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP).
About 20 state governors, representatives from 10 African countries and IsDB Jeddah Headquarters will accompany Chief Obasanjo for the event, scheduled for October 7-8, 2024 at the Kano State Government House and the field.
Organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association(‘SAA) in collaboration with the IsDB and the Kano State Government, the workshop, themed Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project KSADP), will highlight the project’s success and foster discussions on extending similar across other states.
A statement signed by the Communication Officer of SAA, Moses Nongoatse said the Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf, will host Obasanjo and the governors from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Niger, and Katsina states, Akwa Ibom, among others, Federal MDAs.
Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, emphasized that the workshop will showcase the achievements of the KSADP while creating networking opportunities for participating governors to explore potential IsDB funding for agricultural projects in their states.
“In the past three years, KSADP has strategically positioned Kano on the path to sustainable agricultural growth with significant investments in climate-smart agriculture, livestock and dam development, post-harvest loss reduction, employment, poverty alleviation and infrastructure developments,” Atser stated.
He noted that Kano’s farming communities have seen impressive gains in productivity, livelihoods and peaceful coexistence between crop and livestock farmers.
“We are honoured to have His Excellency, the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo chair this event,” Atser continued, acknowledging Obasanjo’s extensive experience in agricultural transformation across Nigeria and Africa. He also expressed gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his dedication to agriculture-driven economic growth,” he added.
The two-day workshop will feature the launch of a large-scale mechanization support initiative for Kano’s farmers and presentations by the IsDB on how the state accessed agricultural development financing.
Former IsDB Vice President for Country Programs, Dr Mansur Mukhtar, who President Bola Tinubu recently appointed as Board Chairman of the Bank of Industry (BOI), will also be in attendance.
Former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso; Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr Yohei Sasakawa; SAA Board Chair, Dr Amit Roy; and SAA President, Dr Makoto Kitanaka are also expected to be in attendance.
The event will also see the launch of the book titled “Sasakawa Africa Association: Three Decades of Fight against Poverty and Hunger in Nigeria”, written by Prof Mohammed Khalid Othman.
The Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria is implementing the crop value chain component of the KSADP through a $19.3 million sub-grant, providing technical support to boost agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
The project enhances farmers’ access to inputs, value addition, e-extension services, agribusiness development, and capacity building in crop production, postharvest operation and market access.
Additionally, it addresses key issues such as private sector involvement, climate-smart agriculture, gender mainstreaming and human nutrition.
SAA is working with 450,000 smallholder farmers across Kano’s 44 local government areas. Focusing on value chains for rice, maize, sorghum, and millet. tomato, onions and cabbage.
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