70,000 peasant farmers to receive SASAKAWA funding

Speaking at the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, during the opening ceremony of SASAKAWA 2000 Stakeholders Annual National Review and Planning meeting, Miko said the funding was meant to improve the lots of the farmers.“We have funds coming from AGRA, which is supporting productivity enhancement activities in […]

Speaking at the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, during the opening ceremony of SASAKAWA 2000 Stakeholders Annual National Review and Planning meeting, Miko said the funding was meant to improve the lots of the farmers.
“We have funds coming from AGRA, which is supporting productivity enhancement activities in Kaduna and Kano states where we expect to touch the lives of 70,000 farmers by the end of the project. We started last year and it will continue with, at least, 10 local governments from each of the two states.
“Similarly, we are in discussion on a new project to be funded by Miller Blinder Gate on taking maize to scale in African countries. Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania are the beneficiaries of the project.”
Apart from the grants, Miko said, SASAKAWA was also guiding farmers on how to improve their activities in accordance with the world’s standard.
The Vice-Chancellor of ABU Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, represented by the Director, NAERLS, Professor Isma’ila Ilu, said the coming of SASAKAWA to Nigeria has brought tremendous success to the agricultural sector.
While describing agriculture as an important component in Nigeria’s development, the vice-chancellor urged governments, at all levels, to give the sector proper attention.