In a landmark achievement for Nigerian agriculture, the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has reported yield increases exceeding 150% across staple and cash crops, marking a significant stride toward sustainable food security and economic resilience for the state’s farmers.
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
Kano, Dec. 20, 2025 (NAN) – The results presented at the KSADP/Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Project Close-Out Workshop reveal more than just impressive statistics; they outline a replicable blueprint for agricultural transformation in Northern Nigeria. The project’s success underscores the impact of integrated, holistic support for smallholder farmers.
Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of the Sasakawa Africa Association, the project’s implementing partner, detailed the outcomes. “We moved beyond isolated solutions to address the entire ecosystem of challenges facing our farmers,” Atser stated. The project, launched in 2020, directly confronted the interconnected barriers of low productivity, deficient extension services, crippling post-harvest losses, and fractured market access.
Deconstructing the 150%+ Yield Increase: A Multi-Pronged Strategy
The staggering yield improvements—ranging from 150% to 226% for crops like rice, maize, sorghum, millet, tomato, onion, and cabbage—were not accidental. They were the result of a synchronized set of interventions:
- Enhanced Extension & Technology Adoption: KSADP revitalized Kano’s agricultural extension system. By training and equipping over 477,000 farmers with improved seeds, climate-smart practices (like drought-resistant varieties and efficient water management), and modern agronomic techniques, they bridged the critical gap between research and field application.
- Mechanization and Input Access: Strategic introductions of affordable mechanization services reduced labor bottlenecks and improved timeliness of operations, directly boosting productivity per hectare.
- Post-Harvest & Value Chain Integration: Recognizing that gains in the field are lost without proper handling, the project invested in aggregation centers, storage facilities, and processing training. This focus reduced post-harvest losses—a major historical setback—and allowed farmers to capture more value from their produce.
- Market Linkages & Financial Empowerment: By connecting farmer groups to structured markets and agribusinesses, KSADP ensured increased yields translated into increased income. The reported average earnings of approximately N972,462 per hectare demonstrate a powerful shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
Beyond Yield: The Human and Systemic Impact
The project’s legacy extends beyond crop metrics. It deliberately empowered over 100,000 women and youths by integrating them into production, processing, and agribusiness ventures, fostering inclusivity and economic diversification. Furthermore, by strengthening public institutions with digital tools, mobility, and a network of community-based facilitators, KSADP built a sustainable support structure intended to outlive the project itself.
Dr. Atser acknowledged the foundational support of the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, alongside the KSADP Project Management Unit. “The systems and capacities we’ve established are now embedded within Kano’s agricultural landscape,” he expressed with confidence. “The true test of success will be the sustained adoption and scaling of these models by the state government and the farmers themselves.”
Looking Ahead: A Model for Food Security
The KSADP story offers critical insights for regional food security strategies. It proves that with coordinated investment in technology, knowledge transfer, infrastructure, and markets, dramatic productivity leaps are achievable. The challenge now is institutionalizing these gains and ensuring the benefits continue to reach and uplift Kano’s smallholder farming communities, setting a precedent for agricultural transformation across Nigeria.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
MNT/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
