As the 2023 Dry season peaks, the Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Lives and Livelihood Funds (LLF) and the Kano state government, is intensifying efforts to ensure sustainable and profitable vegetable production in Kano State.
The project has established 150 Demo clusters of tomato, onion and cabbage in 20 LGAs of Kano, which will serve as Farmer Learning Platforms (FLPs) during the 2023/2024 Dry season.
The FLPs were established by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), an International Agricultural development organization implementing the crop component of the KSADP. The project emphasizes the importance of early preparations, including pre-planting operations, to ensure successful Dry season farming operations.
Speaking in Kano on Saturday, the Project Coordinator, KSADP/SAA Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, said, “The establishment of the Farmer Learning Platforms is crucial to equipping our farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to optimize crop yields and enhance their livelihoods during the dry season for profitable vegetable farming,” Mr Kofarmata explained that “By providing hands-on training in dry season vegetable production techniques, we aim to empower farmers to overcome challenges such as pest and disease attacks, inadequate knowledge and technology, and insufficient post-harvest handling and facilities.”
Mr Kofarmata further stated that “The 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, 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 of the project’s Dry season vegetable production promoted by the SAA regenerative Agriculture strategic intervention pillar include:
- Emphasis 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)
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’.
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. The project aims to increase agricultural productivity, enhance market access, and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers.