Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 20 state governors are set to storm Kano State for a high-level workshop on agricultural transformation through the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP).
The workshop on the KSADP project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will also be attended by representatives from 10 African countries and IsDB Jeddah Headquarters.
Organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in collaboration with the IsDB and the Kano State Government, the workshop, will highlight the project’s success and foster discussions on extending similar across other states.
The workshop themed Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), is slated for October 7-8, 2024, at the Kano State Government House.
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A statement signed by Moses Nongoatse, Communication Officer, Sasakawa Africa Association, Nigeria, confirmed the development to Grassroots Parrot on Wednesday, adding that the workshop will be chaired by the former President, Chief Obasanjo.
The statement reads “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) 20 state governors, representatives from 10 African Countries and IsDB Jeddah Headquarters will join 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.
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.
Agricultural Impact and Future Prospects 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.
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We are honored 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.
Key activities and attendees of 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.
Prominent figures, including 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, will participate.
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.
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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.”