By Adam Said Adam, Kano
The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, has donated modern agricultural machinery to the Kano State Government to enhance farm productivity across the state.
Speaking during the handover ceremony held in Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area, the State Project Coordinator of KSADP, Alhaji Ibrahim Gama Muhammad, said the center came at a critical time when farmers are under pressure to increase output and adopt climate-smart practices.
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“The provision of this modern equipment could not have come at a better time. Our farmers are facing serious challenges – rising cost of labor, low yields, and the effects of climate change. For too long, many of them have depended on outdated tools that limit productivity and waste precious time,” Alhaji Ibrahim Gama said.
He added that mechanization is no longer an option but a necessity if Kano wants to achieve food security and compete in modern agriculture.
“Today marks a new chapter for farmers in Kano. This is the right time for our farmers to move away from hoes and cutlasses and embrace modern machinery, improved seeds, and other proven technologies. With these machines, one farmer can now cultivate more hectares in less time, reduce post-harvest losses, and earn higher income. Government and partners like Sasakawa Africa are doing their part. I urge our farmers to also do their part by learning how to use and maintain these machines properly,” he stated.
Alhaji Ibrahim Gama further assured that KSADP will continue to work with stakeholders to train farmers on the safe and efficient use of the equipment, and to ensure the machines reach the real beneficiaries at the grassroots.
The Board Chairman of the SAA Africa, Dr. Amit Roy, commended the Kano State Government for its consistent support for the Sasakawa Africa programme aimed at advancing agriculture in the state.
“The Kano State Government has always stood by us, and that is why we continue to receive the encouragement to carry out our work. Modern agriculture is the solution for our rural farmers. We must join forces to provide them with modern machines that will support their farming activities,” Dr. Roy said.
The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud. The governor expressed delight at the provision of the modern machines for Kano farmers.
“We must commend you for the remarkable effort in providing these modern farm machines. This will indeed increase productivity by almost 10 times,” Dr. Mahmud said.
He added that sustained access to such modern equipment would enable Kano State to depend on food produced by local farmers without relying on supplies from other states.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA, Dr. Faruq Kurawa, described the machines as a solution to the state’s food security challenges.
“These modern machines are usually very expensive for our farmers. But with this kind of effort by Sasakawa Africa, we can now take a bold step toward addressing food security in the state, given the kind of modern technology the world is using today,” Dr. Kurawa said.
In his remarks, the Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association in Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Atser, said the organization’s focus remains on developing agriculture from the grassroots to address the challenges farmers face due to lack of modern farming tools.
Agro Climate News reports that the event was attended by officials of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, representatives of various seed companies, farmers, and members of the host community.
