ibironkeeniola 
The Kano State Government has restated its commitment to revamping the state’s dairy sub-sector through the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP).
Speaking on Tuesday, State Project Coordinator of KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, assured of the scheme’s commitment towards reviving the dairy industry.
Ibrahim gave the reassurance while receiving a delegation of the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association at the Project’s office in Kano.
Fura da Nono Cooperative Association is the umbrella body for milk vendors in the state.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje launched the $95 million KSADP in February 2020 to fast-track agricultural activities and food security programmes.
The five-year-long project is being financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF).
Speaking during the launch of the project at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, Ganduje had explained that the scheme was aimed at contributing towards poverty reduction.
The scheme also sought to strengthen Kano State’s food security through the development of agro-pastoral production systems in the state, the governor said.
Providing further details on Tuesday, Ibrahim noted that the project will cover the construction and equipping of 200 milk collection centres.
It would also offer financial and technical support to Milk Cooperative Societies, among others.
The state coordinator explained that KSADP will work towards providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient cold chain where raw milk could be collected, tested, chilled and stored without losing its quality.
“With this development, the milk quality is guaranteed and the herdsman’s income is assured.
“So it will be a win-win situation for the herdsman, the milk vendors, and the milk up-takers,” he said.
He explained that the milk collection centres will also engage in cattle insemination, massive fodder production and sustained cattle vaccination for animal health, among others.
These, he said, were aimed at improving milk production substantially, and to make the dairy sub-sector a major income earner for milk producers and processors in the state.
“As the project unfolds, we are going to support the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association with some facilities and training on good hygienic practices and storage.
“Many women and youth members of the association will be empowered with mini processing units,” Ibrahim said.
The coordinator, therefore, urged members of the cooperative association to foster cooperation with the project to achieve its goals.
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On his part, the Chairman of the Fura da Nono Cooperative Association, Alhaji Lawan Muhammad, said the delegation’s visit was to seek ways to contribute towards the successful implementation of the project.
“We have come to advise and to seek clarification on how far the project has gone, especially pertaining to milk collection centres, and [to find out] our role in enhancing milk production and sale in Kano,” Muhammad said.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA