The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), under the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), has commissioned the Kadawa Agricultural Mechanization Centre in Garun Mallam Local Government Area.
This is one of three agricultural mechanization hubs established to transform smallholder farming in Kano State.
The intervention funded by the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF)—will also see similar centres established in Danbatta and Gaya LGAs.
This effort forms part of a six-month extension to the original five-year KSADP, which began in 2021 and now runs until December 2025.
While the Kano State Government provided the land for the hubs, SAA is responsible for their construction and equipment installation, under the project’s crop component.
Speaking at the commissioning, SAA Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, represented by Project Coordinator Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, said the intervention aims to “lift thousands of smallholder farmers out of low-productivity cycles.”
Kofarmata explained that improved access to mechanization will empower farmers to compete in larger markets, create jobs, and enhance food security.
According to him, the hubs will also generate opportunities for youth and women in machine operation, maintenance, and agro-processing.
To ensure sustainability, he noted that the project is anchored on a Private Service Provider (PSP) model, which integrates cooperatives and private operators.
In his remarks, Dr. Rami Ahmad, Vice President (Operations) of IsDB, expressed satisfaction with the commissioning of the Kadawa hub, describing it as a milestone that will significantly boost farmers’ productivity.
“This project is aimed at touching the lives of three million people. It is something for all of us to be proud of, as it benefits both Kano State and farmers in surrounding areas,” he said.
Also speaking, Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, stated that the project’s full impact would unfold in the years to come.
“From crop production, irrigation, and value addition to processing, livestock productivity enhancement, and climate-resilient initiatives, the benefits of this project will crystallize over time,” he said, expressing hope that the state and private sector partners would sustain and expand the initiative beyond donor support.
A beneficiary of the mechanization initiative, Sagir Abubakar from Ciromawa community, revealed that farmers under the project had collectively generated and saved N21 million.
“Of this amount, N20 million has been deposited in the bank, while N1.3 million was shared among members to enable them to purchase seedlings,” he explained.
Each hub, according to reports, will provide clusters of farmers with access to modern machinery and technical services for land preparation, planting, harvesting, processing, and storage.
The facilities are equipped with tractors, power tillers, planters, harvesters, and threshers, all operated by trained technicians.
Other highlights of the event included the formal commissioning of the Kadawa hub by Dr. Rami Ahmad, a tour of the facility, and a tree planting exercise.
