Ahead of the dry season production and concerned by weather adaptation challenges, infestation of pest and best agronomy practice during the season, the Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) has concluded a hybrid capacity building for over 2000 farmers in the state to enhance their skills and increase product yield.
The project, which was aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing market access, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers, was considered the most significant effort to intensify farmers’ sustainable and profitable efforts, especially in vegetable production.
Specifically speaking, the Project Coordinator, KSADP/SAA Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofar-Mata, while addressing journalists at the end of the training recently, said the project established Farmer Learning Platforms, to enhance farmers skills and knowledge.
Kofar-Mata disclosed that the techniques were anchored to optimize crop yields and promoting vegetable production while strengthening nutrition and boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
Mr Kofarmata explained that by providing hands-on training in dry season vegetable production techniques, KSADP/SAA project has successfully empowered farmers to overcome challenges such as pest and disease attacks, inadequate knowledge and technology, and insufficient post-harvest handling and facilities.
The project coordinator stressed that KSADP is committed to promoting vegetable production to strengthen Nutrition/food security, boost agricultural productivity, and improve the livelihoods of farmers in Kano State; by combining training, technology transfer, and community engagement.
The FLPs were established by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), an International Agricultural development organization, implementing the crop component of the KSADP, focuses more on the importance of early preparations, including pre-planting operations, to ensure successful Dry season farming operations.
“The project has established 150 Demo plots to build farmers’ capacity. We are confident that our comprehensive approach will yield significant benefits for the agricultural sector and the overall well-being of the State. Key aspects the project aimed at include dry season vegetable production promoted by the SAA regenerative Agriculture strategic intervention pillar.
” These pillars dwell more on early planting, quality sourcing, and selection of seeds, timely application of fertilizers, effective pest and disease control measures, strict adherence to Good Agronomic Practices (GAP),” Kofar-Mata noted.
The programme officer of Regenerative Agriculture SAA/KSADP, Mr Tijjani Tanko, said 150 dry-season vegetable demonstration plots with access to irrigation facilities have been established across 20 out of the 44 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
“The focus is on tomatoes (100 FLPs), onions (25 FLPs), and cabbage (25 FLPs).’ He explained that KSADP/SAA is networking farmers through its 270 Extension Agents and 540 Community-Based Facilitators for effective technology transfer”, he said.
The Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) is a five-year project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihood Funds (LLF) to revitalize the agricultural sector in Kano State, Nigeria.
