Agriculture
ACReSAL moves to reclaim, restore lost landscapes in Kano State
ACReSAL moves to reclaim, restore lost landscapes in Kano State
By Muhammad Ali
Kano, Sept. 29- Dr Dahiru Hashim, the Kano State coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), said that the project is to recover and restore lost landscapes arising from natural causes and human activities.
Hashim made this known while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Kano
”We are committed to addressing the environmental challenges that affect the state such as climate change, drylands, erosion and flooding, land degradation and issues that affect the livelihood of communities which is mainly agriculture.
”The ACReSAL project is anchored on four broad components that speak essentially to the demand of the poor whose livelihoods have been distressed,” he said.
Hashim also said that the ACReSAL project has drilled solar powered boreholes and establish tree nurseries in some local government areas of the state.
He said that the intervention would boost agriculture and improve the standard of living of the people while the tree nurseries would help to combat desertification and soil erosion.
He expressed the commitment of the state in improving and protecting the Kano environment with priority and attention to the sector on issues of biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded lands.
“ACReSAL plans to undertake Erosion control work in Rarin, Dawakin Tofa and Bulbula/Gayawa, Nassarawa and
Ungogo Local government areas.
“Construction of water conservation structure and provision of minor irrigation facilities in ‘Yartiti, Shanono and construction of water conservation structure and provision of minor irrigation facilities in Fajewa, Takai Local government area.
“Establishment of 100ha individual farmer orchards and Woodlot plantations, 200ha of woodlot in communal forests and institutional plantings.
“440ha farmer managed natural regeneration of indigenous tree species on individual farm lands and communal forests and promotion of climate smart agriculture through FLID and CRF among others,” he said
The World Bank’s 700 million dollars ACReSAL project being implemented in collaboration with the federal government and the 19 northern states and the FCT was recently officially launched in Bauchi by Gov. Bala Mohammed, thus becoming the first among the participating states to unveil the project implementation.
The ACreSAL project is embarked on by the Federal Government to build community resilience as well as improve the sustainable productivity of its natural resources in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara and Kaduna.
These northern states including the FCT , the federal government said are faced by rapid desert encroachment ranging from severe to moderate and marginal.
Other incentives of the project are the strengthening of the environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management, fighting issues surrounding desertification, drought, landscapes degradation and deprivation at community levels as well as resuscitating the sectors of agriculture, environment and water resources
About The Author
Farmers participating in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) groundnut initiative in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State have recorded up to 100 per cent increase in yield, following the adoption of improved seeds and modern farming techniques introduced through the programme.
Our correspondent who attended a field day organised by SAPZ in Bebeji on Thursday reports that the initiative has significantly boosted farmers’ productivity and income levels.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN expressed satisfaction with the support received under the SAPZ programme, describing it as “transformative” and a “turning point” for groundnut cultivation in the area.
One of the farmers, Malam Umaru Garba, said he harvested twice the amount of groundnuts compared to the previous farming season.
“Before SAPZ came, I used to get only about 10 bags from my one hectare farm. This year, I got 20 bags. The improved seeds and training on modern planting methods made a big difference,” Garba said.
Another farmer, Hajiya Maryam Dankaka, said the programme had not only improved her yield but also enhanced her financial stability.
“For the first time, I was able to sell enough groundnuts to pay school fees for my children and still have money to reinvest. The programme taught us better planting spacing, pest control, and post-harvest handling,” she said.
Similarly, a young farmer, Aliyu Musa, commended the facilitators and agricultural experts working with SAPZ for their continuous field visits and technical guidance.
“They visit us regularly to monitor progress and advise us. This has really helped us to avoid mistakes and improve our output,” Musa said.
Also speaking, Malam Sani Usman, another beneficiary, appealed to the SAPZ management to provide farmers with groundnut harvesting machines and ensure timely distribution of improved seeds ahead of the next farming season.
“If we can get access to modern harvesters, our work will be faster and cleaner, and we can produce more. We are very grateful for what SAPZ has done so far,” he said.
The SAPZ programme, supported by development partners and the Kano State Government, aims to promote agro-industrial growth by enhancing value chains, improving farmers’ productivity, and supporting the establishment of processing hubs across the state.
Experts at the field day noted that the groundnut initiative in Bebeji has demonstrated the potential of integrated agricultural interventions to transform rural livelihoods and contribute to food security in Nigeria.
About The Author
About The Author
Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), under the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), has inaugurated the Kadawa Agricultural Mechanisation Centre in Garun Mallam Local Government Area of Kano State.
The centre is one of three mechanisation hubs established to transform smallholder farming in the state.
This paper reports that the intervention is funded by the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). Similar hubs are expected to be established in Danbatta and Gaya LGAs.
The initiative is part of a six-month extension of the five-year KSADP, which began in 2021 and now runs until December 2025. While the state government provided land for the hubs, SAA is responsible for construction and equipment installation under the project’s crop component.
Speaking at the inauguration, SAA Country Director, Dr Godwin Atser, represented by Project Coordinator, Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, said the intervention would lift thousands of smallholder farmers out of low-productivity cycles.
Kofarmata said improved access to mechanisation would enable farmers to compete in larger markets, create jobs and strengthen food security.
He added that the hubs would also provide opportunities for youths and women in machine operation, maintenance and agro-processing.
According to him, the project is anchored on a Private Service Provider (PSP) model that integrates cooperatives and private operators to ensure sustainability.
Also speaking, Vice President (Operations) of IsDB, Dr Rami Ahmad, described the hub as a milestone that would significantly boost farmers’ productivity.
“This project is aimed at touching the lives of three million people. It is something for all of us to be proud of, as it benefits Kano State and farmers across the surrounding areas,” Ahmad said.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, said the full impact of the project would be felt in the years to come.
“From crop production, irrigation, value addition, processing, and livestock productivity enhancement to climate-resilient initiatives, the benefits of this project will crystallise over time,” he said.
A beneficiary, Mr Sagir Abubakar from Ciromawa community, said farmers under the project had collectively generated and saved N21 million.
“Out of this, N20 million has been deposited in the bank, while N1.3 million was shared among members to enable them to buy seedlings,” he said.
NAN reports that each of the hubs will provide clusters of farmers with access to modern machinery and technical services for land preparation, planting, harvesting, processing and storage.
The facilities are equipped with tractors, power tillers, planters, harvesters and threshers, operated by trained technicians.
Highlights of the event included the formal commissioning of the Kadawa hub by Ahmad, a tour of the facility and a tree-planting exercise.
About The Author
NPFL: Kano Pillars Won’t Go Down, Says Coach Babaganaru
FG to provide starter packs for TVET graduates — Minister
NPFL fines Katsina Utd N9m, orders closed-door matches over crowd violence
JUST IN: FG Declares Sallah Public Holiday
Refinery: NNPC Ltd Targets Sustained Production with New Maintenance & Compliance Measures
New HJRBDA boss outlines ambitious agenda for agricultural growth, youth empowerment
-
General2 years ago
JUST IN: FG Declares Sallah Public Holiday
-
Economy1 year agoRefinery: NNPC Ltd Targets Sustained Production with New Maintenance & Compliance Measures
-
Agriculture8 months agoNew HJRBDA boss outlines ambitious agenda for agricultural growth, youth empowerment
-
News1 year agoChoose dialogue over protest, Kano groups urge youths
-
Agriculture11 months agoFG trains laboratory technicians , technologists on soil health card scheme
-
General1 year agoActionAid urges youths to harness digital technologies for development
-
Entertainment2 years agoPopular actor, Ali Nuhu appointed as MD Film Corporation
-
Security8 months agoTroops arrest 55-year-old suspected kidnapper in Kano, recover arms