Kano State is gearing up to host a significant workshop aimed at transforming agriculture, spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This pivotal event will take place on October 7 and 8, 2024, and is set to attract around 20 state governors, representatives from 10 African nations, officials from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Headquarters in Jeddah, and leaders from the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) based in Tokyo and the USA.

According to a statement from SAA’s Communication Officer, Mr. Moses Nongoatse, the workshop will focus on the IsDB-funded Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP). The discussions will center around its successes and strategies for replicating this model in other states. The theme for the workshop is “Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP).”

This collaboration between the IsDB and the Kano State government is designed to foster dialogue on sustainable agricultural development across Nigeria. Dr. Godwin Atser, SAA Nigeria Country Director, highlighted that the workshop will not only showcase the achievements of the KSADP but also create networking opportunities for governors to explore IsDB funding for agricultural initiatives in their regions.

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Dr. Atser noted that the KSADP has strategically positioned Kano for sustainable agricultural growth over the past three years, making substantial investments in climate-smart agriculture, livestock and dam development, post-harvest loss reduction, job creation, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure enhancement.

During the two-day event, a large-scale mechanization support initiative will be launched to boost productivity among Kano’s farmers. IsDB officials will provide insights into how the state successfully secured funding for agricultural development. Notably, SAA is implementing the crop value chain component of the KSADP through a $19.3 million sub-grant aimed at providing technical assistance to enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness. Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is expected to host Obasanjo and governors from several states, including Jigawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, and Akwa Ibom, along with representatives from various Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).