The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has supported no fewer than 477,284 smallholder farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state under its crop component, implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA).
Abdulrasheed Kofar-Mata, the Project Coordinator, disclosed this during the distribution of agricultural machinery and equipment to beneficiaries in Kano.
He said the intervention had driven extensive agricultural transformation, strengthened food and nutrition security in the state, and achieved 86 per cent of its annual target.
Kofar-Mata explained that the five-year project—funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) and the Kano State Government—was designed to reduce poverty and boost food security among vulnerable households.
According to him, SAA, the technical partner implementing the crop component, had exceeded expectations through activities that improved productivity, strengthened the seed system, reduced post-harvest losses, enhanced market access and promoted climate-smart agriculture.
He said the project had also boosted income generation for thousands of smallholder farmers across the state.
Kofar-Mata noted that the project procured 98 tractors complete with trailers, ploughs and harrows for distribution to beneficiaries.
“No fewer than 10 of the tractors have already been commissioned at the mechanization centre, while eight were presented at Wednesday’s event.
“The remaining 80 will be deployed to other mechanization centres and farming communities across the state.
“In addition, the project is distributing 410 mini tractors, 160 multi-crop reapers, 150 maize reapers and 100 rice reapers,” he said.
He added that the machines were expected to boost productivity, reduce drudgery and promote modern farming practices among smallholder farmers.
Kofar-Mata also said the solar pumps being provided would significantly reduce farmers’ production costs during dry-season farming, thereby improving yields and profitability.
On his part, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, the Kano State Coordinator for KSADP, said the project was a multi-activity intervention and that the items displayed represented only a fraction of its support to farmers.
One of the beneficiaries, Umar Hassan from Minjibir Local Government Area, expressed appreciation to KSADP, saying the support would greatly enhance his farming activities and improve productivity.
Similarly, another beneficiary, Nazifi Ado from Doguwa Local Government Area, commended the project for providing life-changing assistance to farmers.
Also, a beneficiary, Mairo Inuwa, who received a rice thresher, expressed gratitude, saying the support had provided her family with a reliable source of income. She explained that as a widow caring for orphans—alongside an unemployed graduate son—the intervention was both timely and transformative.
