Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) has distributed 100 units of single-row hand-pushed simple planters to farmers in Kano to upscale their production capacity.
Besides, the agricultural support initiative being strengthening by the project through its program implementing partner, Sasakawa Africa Association, is intended to complement efforts to boost food supply and security in the state.
Unveiling the empowerment opportunity to farmers on Saturday, the KSADP/SAA Project Coordinator, Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, said the distribution of the planters was part of strategic efforts to support smallholder farmers to access efficient and affordable agricultural tools that will boost their production threshold.
According to Kofar-Mata, “The KSADP through SAA is helping our farmers to increase their productivity and income levels, which will ultimately lead to improved food security and livelihoods for rural households,” he said.
Mallam Isa, one of the beneficiaries of KSADP/SAA project, from Bunkure Community, expressed gratitude for the gesture just as he pledged to make judicious use of the inputs.
“This planter will make my work much easier and help me produce more crops, increasing my yield and income,” he said. “Thank you, KSADP, IsDB, and partners for this support.
‘’Single-row hand-pushed planters are simple agricultural tools that can make a big difference in the lives of smallholder farmers. They are easy to use and operate, and they can help farmers plant seeds more evenly and efficiently, leading to increased crop yields and higher incomes.’’
In a release by Communication Officer Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, Moses Nongoatse, the planters were distributed to farmers across different farming communities in the44 LGAs of the state to enhance their productivity by providing them access to efficient planting and fertilizer application equipment.
Nongoatse emphasized the initiative was intended to addressing the high cost of agricultural machines, lack of awareness, and poor infrastructure which are some of the challenges affecting smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
He pointed out the program being funded by Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and supported by Lives and Livelihoods Funds, is to bring assistance to farmers in Kano State to improve crop productivity and income for smallholder farmers in the state.
The statement read, ’’Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), implementing the crop component of the KSADP, is committed to supporting smallholder farmers in Kano State to improve their productivity and income levels by providing farmers with services, such as training, access to inputs, and market linkages, to build a more sustainable and food-secure future for Kano State.’’