Kano Signs $200m Agriculture Support Grants MOU With World Bank

By Umar Isa

Kano State Government is collaborating with the World Bank and the Federal Government to support small and medium farmers with the 200 million dollars grant.

The Permanent Secretary Kano State Ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Garba stated this on Wednesday at a stakeholders sensitization workshop organized by Agro-Processing Enhancement and Livelihood Support Project (APPEALS Project) in Kano.

Alhaji Aminu MuhammadGarba who is the Chairman of the state Technical Committee for the project, said the program is a six year initiative aimed at improving rice, tomato and wheat value chain in the State to enhance production, processing and marketing aspect of farming for sustainable development.

“The collaboration is with the World Bank, federal government and Kano state government whereby agricultural inputs and infrastructural facilities will be provided for subsistent  farmers for them to grow and become commercial producers’’

On his part, Kano State Project Coordinator of APPEALS, Malam Hassan Ibrahim said the project is focused on Rice, Tomato and wheat value chain which have potential for immediate improvement of food security and enhancement of products with a potential for export and income generation.

‘’ The project which is in operation in six states including Kano, Kaduna ,Kogi, Cross Rivers and Lagos has eleven value chain with each state focusing on peculiarity of the area.’’

Malam Hassan Ibrahim said the project component include Production and Productivity Enhancement, Primary processing, value Addition , Post-Harvest Management And Women and Youth Empowerment, Infrastructure Support  to Agribusiness Clusters, Technical Assistance, Knowledge Management and Communication, Project Management and Coordination.

He said the workshop is geared towards educating the stakeholders on Environmental and Social Safeguard to broaden their knowledge.

Two papers were presented that include “Environmental Issues and the Global Quest for Sustainable Agricultural Development: A case study of Kano state’’ and Agriculture and Socio-Economic Challenges in Kano state : the way forward’’

The theme for the workshop is , Towards Zero Environmental Issues In The Implementation Of Appeals Project In Kano State