By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
The Kano state Agro – Pastoral Development Project, a $95 million venture that is largely supported by the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, will be unveiled formally in December.
A statement by the Director General, Media, Ameen K. Yassar made available to Newsdiaryonline on Wednesday said the project would kickstart during the start up and stakeholder workshop, which will hold in Kano, the state capital.
“While the Islamic Development Bank is contributing $90 million, Kano state government will put in $5 million to the project, which will be implemented over a five – year period.
“The project aims to support the state government to develop pastoral communities, address security and other challenges caused by transhuman, ensure natural resources management, agricultural productivity enhancement, value addition and market access improvement, rural infrastructure provision and institutional capacity strengthening for smallholder farmers, among other things,” the statement read.
The Manager of Agriculture Global Practice (Economic and Social Infrastructure) at IDB, Mr. Nur Abdi, revealed at a high level discussion with governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Wednesday.
“This project is the bank’s biggest investment in Nigeria, the biggest in one approval and the biggest in any state.
“That is why we are so much paying attention to it. We are inviting other partners like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, BMF, to the workshop to show case the commitment of Kano to the success of the project”, Mr. Abdi stated.
“It will contribute to the prosperity of Kano – that is why I am here from the bank’s headquarters in Jeddah, to discuss implementation arrangement project design”, he explained.
He explained that in line with the bank’s commitment to assist member countries and as a demand – driven institution, he had met with the Project Management Unit, whereby it was agreed that option should be considered for Babban Gona, one of the pre-selected key service providers for the project.
Mr. Abdi stressed the need for the state government to expedite release of its counterpart funding to the project to enable certain activities start in earnest and commended the Project Management Unit, for speeding up preparation of the project documents and planning of activities.
In his remarks, Ganduje, said the project idea was conceived “to transform challenges inherent in pastoralism and agriculture in the state to opportunities for economic growth and enhancement”.
“We intend to transform the practice of herdsmen from a socio – cultural livelihood to a modern socio – economic venture.
“We want to prevent the movement of people and cattle to other parts of the country on foot because of the security implications”, he stressed.
Consequently, Ganduje, stated that to complement the Kano state Agro – Pastoral Development Project, his administration has commissioned experts to draft a blue print for the development of ranching areas within the state, which would entail critical dams water point and other critical infrastructure, as part of effort to curtail nomadic lifestyles.
“We will also build a modern abattoir to replace moment of cattle with transportation of processed meat. We are also laying emphasis on animal development that is why we sent 72 children of herdsmen to Turkey, to learn animal insemination”, Dr. Ganduje said.
The governor, who affirmed personal commitment to the success of the Kano state Agro – Pastoral Development Project, promised full cooperation and timely release of funds, to keep things going.
He charged the Project Management Unit be dedicated, transparent and accountable to make the set goals achievable.
The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the Managing Director of KNARDA, the state agriculture agency, Alh. Ibrahim Sulaiman Dan Isle, the Project Coordinator, Kano state Agro – Pastoral Development Project, Alh. Ibrahim Garba Muhammad and Mahamane Moussa of the Abuja Regional Hub, Islamic Development Bank, contributed to the dialogue.
