The Kano State Government and Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)-Nigeria have signed a $12.3 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen agricultural mechanisation and improve farmers’ access to modern farming equipment across the state.
The initiative, funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), marks the beginning of Phase II of the Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project (KSADP), which is scheduled to run from July 1 to December 31, 2025.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Country Director of SAA-Nigeria, Dr Godwin Atser, said the agreement represents a significant milestone in Kano’s agricultural transformation efforts and builds on the progress recorded under the first phase of the KSADP over the past five years.
“Sasakawa has been a consistent partner to Kano State, supporting smallholder farmers and processors to improve productivity and livelihoods,” Atser said. “This new phase will reduce the drudgery of farm labour and ensure sustainability through improved mechanisation.”
A statement issued by Moses Nongoatse, Sasakawa Communication Officer, and made available to Grassroots Parrot quoted Atser as adding that the latest intervention was in response to the state government’s renewed commitment to mechanised agriculture.
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The SAA, a Japan-headquartered non-governmental organisation focused on agricultural development, has operated in Kano for over 30 years. Under the Cereal Crop Component of the KSADP alone, it has reached more than 450,000 farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state with improved technologies and market-oriented practices.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Kano State, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, said the state government was scaling up its mechanisation drive through the establishment of farm service centres, distribution of machinery, and large-scale technology demonstrations including seed multiplication and farmer training.
“This is a major push to modernise agriculture in the state and make it more productive and attractive to youths,” Mahmoud added.
Also speaking, the KSADP Project Coordinator at SAA, Abdulrasheed Kofarmata, disclosed that the $12.3 million fund will support the procurement of over 9,000 pieces of agricultural equipment, including tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters, planters, sprayers, threshers, and rice mills.
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Kofarmata noted that the intervention would also finance the setup of 22 medium-scale rice enterprises, 10 artificially aerated onion storage facilities, and 40 cereal flour processing centres powered by solar energy.
“I think better days are here for individual farmers and cooperative groups in Kano State,” he said.
The first phase of the KSADP has been credited with improving food security, rural livelihoods, and job creation in the state over the last five years.