The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), in a program implemented by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), on Friday showcased some of its most impactful agricultural technologies in Gwarzo, Rimin Gado, and Dawakin Tofa local government areas of Kano State, reaffirming its commitment to reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening rural agro-processing enterprises.

SolaceBase reports that during the exercise, the KSADP team, accompanied by journalists, visited selected facilities established under the project to assess their performance, interact with beneficiaries, and demonstrate how the technologies have transformed storage, processing, and income-generation activities at the community level.

The visits formed part of the project’s continued efforts to highlight its achievements as it approaches completion, especially interventions targeting vulnerable households and rural farmers.

In Jan Barde Sabon Gida community of Gwarzo LGA, the KSADP project coordinator, Comrade Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofa Mata, explained that the aerated onion storage facility has quickly become one of the most popular interventions, attracting interest from farmers and associations eager to replicate it.

He said, “We receive calls almost every week from farmers who want to adopt this technology because they recognize its value.”

He described the arrangement with beneficiaries, noting that while KSADP provides and installs the technology, the community contributes land and builds the structure.

“This model encourages ownership and sustainability. Communities are quick to invest once they understand the economic benefits of proper onion storage,” he added.

The Program Officer for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, Engineer Sadiq Hamman, KSADP/SAA, said the storage facility was introduced to reduce post-harvest losses, particularly in hot conditions.

He explained that each unit contains two chambers, each capable of storing up to 5 metric tons of onions, and noted that 61 units have already been installed across the state.

“This gives us a total capacity of nearly 300 metric tons,” he said.

Hammal added that traditional storage methods result in losses ranging from 30 to 50 percent, while the KSADP facility reduces that to as low as 10 to 12 percent.

“The system uses a hollow-based ventilated chamber powered by a timer-controlled fan that circulates fresh air, keeping the onions dry and preserved for longer periods,” he explained.

He also discussed the cost, noting that a unit previously cost around N2 million, including the solar system.

“But when farmers store onions and sell later in the season, their potential returns can increase up to tenfold compared to initial market prices,” he said.

The project coordinator highlighted the sustainability efforts, noting that KSADP strengthened public extension delivery by providing 220 motorcycles and 380 digital tablets to extension agents.

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He explained that even though project funding ended two months ago, many extension agents continue to serve communities voluntarily.

“This shows their commitment to sustaining the achievements of the project,” he said.

In the Gulu community in Rimin Gado LGA, where a hammer mill for processing grains was demonstrated, the coordinator pointed out that the project prioritizes reaching the most vulnerable households, which is why interventions are often located in remote areas.

He said the mill was provided free of charge, though beneficiaries contribute the structure to house the equipment.

Hammal added that women manage many of the 43 agro-processing enterprises across the state, promoting inclusion and youth employment.

“These facilities offer husking and milling services for rice, sorghum, millet, and maize. Each enterprise often employs up to four young people,” he explained.

On how KSADP reaches remote farmers, the coordinator said the project operates through a network of 854 extension agents, comprising public, community-based, and commodity association facilitators.

Equipped with motorcycles, tablets, and monthly stipends during the active phase, these agents identify community needs, mobilize farmers, and ensure interventions reach the right beneficiaries.

He added, “We apply rigorous selection criteria and baseline assessments to make sure support goes to the right people, ensuring sustainability and maximum impact.”

He noted that beneficiaries continue to testify to how interventions over the last two to four years have transformed their livelihoods.

Some young operators, he said, have even used proceeds from the enterprises to further their education.

Sulaiman Ibrahim, a beneficiary from Gwarzo LGA who uses the onion storage facility, expressed how the support has helped him.

“This facility has allowed me to store onions for several months without significant losses. It has greatly improved my farming business,” he said.

Hannatu Muhammad from Rimin Gado, who operates the milling facility, shared her experience, saying that the intervention has increased her patronage and strengthened her livelihood.

In Dawakin Tofa LGA, a 28-women group who benefited from a tractor demonstration explained that they hire out the machine daily under supervision.

“We share the proceeds among members, and through our savings from the tractor, we were able to purchase and install a grinding machine to boost our income,” they said.