Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), is partnering Sasakawa Africa to deploy climate-smart agricultural production innovation to enhance food security in the state.
The KSADP Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, stated this when he received the Regional Director, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Dr. Mel Oluoch on a courtesy call.
In a statement signed by Project Communication Specialist, Ameen K. Yassar, Muhammad explained that the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies is a critical component towards attaining sustainable value change.
Climate-smart agriculture, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is an approach to help the people who manage agricultural systems respond effectively to climate change.
The CSA approach, however, pursues on triple objectives of sustainably increasing productivity and incomes, adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions where possible.
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Muhammad said: “All over the world, countries are experiencing climate change which is causing a reduction in rainfall and by implication, reduction in agricultural productivity. As we partner with Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), therefore, we must pursue innovations, small machinery and others, aimed at reducing the impact of climate change on our agricultural practices.”
He observed that policymakers in Kano are desirous of seeing rapid results, especially in the agricultural sector, hence the need for SAA to be more proactive in implementing the KSADP-SAA crop intervention programmes, which aims to improve food and nutrition security.
36 per cent or so of the over one million expected beneficiaries of KSADP are crops farmers, whom Sasakawa is expected to impact, through our collaboration.
Therefore, you have a serious challenge to effect change in our agricultural sector,” he said
While appreciating SAA for the steps taken to improve agriculture in the state, Muhammad advised the organisation to work more closely with research organisations and to publicise activities, to make its impact worthwhile.
In his remarks, the Regional Director, Sasakawa Africa Association, Dr. Mel Oluoch, stated that his organisation, which works in 16 African countries, is committed to using its vast experience, to bring sustainable solutions to challenges of climate change facing farmers in Kano.
Describing the Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project as a timely intervention, Dr. Oluoch promised that his organisation would help the project to strengthen its deliberate livestock-crop integration, with a view to ensuring resilient livelihoods in the state.
