Ahmad Muhammad.
Kano state government is set to host
former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 20 state governors for a two-day high-level workshop on agricultural transformation through the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP).
The workshop on the KSADP project is funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
Representatives from 10 African countries and IsDB headquarters in Jeddah are also expected to attend.
The workshop is 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),” will hold on October 7-8, 2024, at the Kano State Government House.
This was conrained in a Statement signed by Moses Nongoatse, Communication Officer, Sasakawa Africa Association, Nigeria.
Moses said the workshop willo be chaired by ex-President Obasanjo.
The statement reads “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. ”
The Statement noted that, ” Kano’s farming communities have seen impressive gains in productivity, livelihoods, and peaceful coexistence between crop and livestock farmers.
” We are honored to have His Excellency, the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo chair this event,” the Statement added, while acknowledging Obasanjo’s extensive experience in agricultural transformation across Nigeria and Africa.”
Moses also expressed gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his dedication to agriculture-driven economic growth.
He further stated that 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 Musa 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.
According to the Statement: “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.
” 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-sma