By Longtong Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has empowered no fewer than 2357 women with Sheeps and Goats as parts of efforts by the state government to alleviate the plights of the vulnerable and poorest in the State.
Each beneficiary was empowered with either two ram/sheep or two she goats and a he-goat alongside some quantity of food for the purpose of fattening and reproduction which will further boost animal production through Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP).
This is based on the confidence that healthy and productive small ruminants play a key role in supporting women livelihood in low and middle-income communities.
Speaking during the formal launching/flag-off ceremony of the Agricultural Intervention programmes and distribution of Palliatives at the premises of Kano state Agricultural and Rural Development Authourity (KNARDA), on Monday, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf Kabiru said the women will be drawn from accross the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
In addition, 6,000 small holder farmers were supported with agricultural inputs and technologies including: Climate Smart pumping machines, power tlllers, hammer mills, rice mills, rice hullers, rice threshers and maize threshers to improve agricultural productivity under the KSADP/ SaSakawa Africa Association Crops Value Chain intervention.
Also, 1,200 Groundnut farmers were given “Aflasafe” under the KNARDA legumes value chain programme to prevent post-harvest losses and the state government procured 2,050 units Tradable water pumps which will also be given to farmers as a motivation stimulus.
Under the Agro Processing and Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) project, the state government is providing inputs support to 300 farmers across the value chain of rice, wheat and tomato in order to encourage farmers to grow more food, improve livelihood and create jobs for the teeming youth men and women in the state.
On the palliatives, the Governor went on ” our government is using this occasion to commence the distribution of 297,000 (10kg bags) of Rice and 160,000 (10 kg bags) of maize to the poor and vulnerables in the 44 local government areas of the state.
“To ensure these items reach the intended families, they would be distributed across the 484 wards in the state. Each ward shall receive a share of 565 bags of 10kg rice and 330 bags of 10kg maize.
“The distribution will also take place in the following identified and selected groups: all rehabilitation homes, all social welfare homes, persons with special needs, selected Tsangayu/Islamiyya schools and selected hospitals in the state as well as junior cadre from the civil service. On the whole, a total of about half a million households will benefit from the various agricultural interventions and palliatives distribution in the state,” Governor Kabir noted.
“To ensure justice and fairness in the distribution, compliance committees at the state, local governments and wards levels were approved to ensure that the palliatives items are appropriately distributed accordingly and reach the intended beneficiary households.
According to the Governor, the program is part of the state government effort in cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal as well as to fulfil his campaign promises, noting that the items will be distributed free of charge to the people.
Speaking earlier at the event, the managing director of KNARDA, Dr Farouk Kurawa, said the pilot LGA to benefit from the program are Gwale, Kano Municipal, Dawakin Kudu and Dala, noting that the state government is committed to bettering the welfare of it citizens.
