Kano State Government has recovered more than 1,200 acres of previously unusable farmland through the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, while ongoing dam and irrigation projects are expected to add another 2,000 acres of cultivable land to the state’s agricultural capacity.

The interventions form part of efforts to expand year-round farming, improve food production, create rural employment and reduce the migration of rural residents to urban centres in search of livelihoods.

Danjuma Mahmood Yanatsari, Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, disclosed this while outlining the achievements of the Ministry, saying the government had also established a comprehensive farmers’ database to improve agricultural planning, guide budgetary allocations and provide reliable information for development partners and federal government intervention programmes.

He said the database had enabled the government to identify farmers and assess agricultural needs across crop production, horticulture, livestock and irrigation.

Yanatsari said an assessment of existing irrigation facilities revealed significant infrastructure deficiencies, prompting the government to rehabilitate canals and water channels at major irrigation locations, including Jermambaka, the Kadawa facility and Bunkure A and B.

According to him, the rehabilitation, supported by funding approved by the governor, restored more than 1,200 acres of farmland for agricultural use. An intervention under the federal government’s African Development Bank-supported ATAPS project also helped recover more than 200 acres for irrigation.

The government is expanding the intervention through a major irrigation project at Donsushia, where a dam measuring about two kilometres is under construction, with an estimated water storage capacity of three billion cubic litres.

The project is designed to provide irrigation facilities for about 500 hectares, equivalent to 1,250 acres, of farmland.

Yanatsari disclosed that construction of a 14-kilometre access road to the project site had been completed to enable the movement of heavy equipment, while the dam itself was about 40 percent completed. Work on the irrigation channels is also progressing, with plans to expand their initial scope.

Beyond Donsushia, the government has secured approval for 11 additional small irrigation dams and facilities across 11 local government areas, including Anibasu, Kibia, Sumaila, Doguwa, Shanono, Dawakin Kudu, Jajai, Rogo, Dichi, Dawakin Tofa and Ngugu.

Compensation payments have commenced in six locations, while contractors have already mobilised to some sites, including Anibasu.

The projects are expected to provide approximately 2,000 additional acres of irrigable farmland when completed.

Yanatsari said the government was also working with international development partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development, to strengthen agricultural production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, women and rural communities.

On agricultural mechanisation, he said the state had acquired various farm equipment, including tractors, threshers, forklifts, combine harvesters, solar-powered irrigation pumps, planters and transplanters.

The government also plans to distribute small and medium-sized rice mills to registered farmers’ cooperatives, with smaller facilities targeted at women and larger mills intended for major producers.

He explained that the equipment would be provided free of charge to qualified cooperatives, subject to sound corporate governance, transparent leadership, regular elections and credible business operations.

In livestock development, Yanatsari said the state government had supported thousands of beneficiaries through animal fattening and breeding programmes implemented with development partners.

According to him, about 7,800 beneficiaries received cattle, with each participant provided with two bulls, animal feed and veterinary medicines for fattening and resale.

More than 13,000 beneficiaries also participated in goat and sheep interventions, with women receiving goats for breeding and young people supported with rams for fattening.

He said the programmes were designed to provide sustainable sources of income rather than one-off assistance.

On farm inputs, Yanatsari disclosed that the state government and local councils had procured nearly 700 truckloads of fertiliser for distribution over the past three years.

He added that the government procured more than 54 truckloads through the state-owned fertiliser company in 2024, while the Federal Government supplied about 70 additional truckloads of different fertiliser varieties.

Federal interventions also included the distribution of fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and improved seeds through redemption centres using the state’s farmers’ database.

The commissioner further reported progress in livestock infrastructure, including the completion of more than 70 milk collection centres supported by the Islamic Development Bank.

The centres are equipped with storage facilities and solar-powered cooling systems to preserve milk quality, particularly for pastoral communities. Milk transportation containers are also ready for distribution.

Other completed or upgraded facilities include agricultural aggregation and storage centres across local government areas, as well as cattle markets at Dumbulu, Falgori, Gwarzo, Udil and Lambata.

The cattle markets have been provided with water facilities, veterinary clinics, drainage systems, solar lighting and loading ramps to improve livestock handling and transportation.

The Dawano grain market has also undergone improvements, including road rehabilitation, drainage, a police station, solar facilities and water infrastructure.

To address the challenge of evacuating farm produce, Yanatsari said the state government, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, had provided about 72 kilometres of tarred and surface-dressed rural agricultural roads connecting farming communities to markets and aggregation centres.

The roads cover locations including Gora, Modugi, Daning, Garko, Danguziri in Rogo, Wase, Baita in Minjibir, Dugal and parts of Dambatta, among others.

He also disclosed that the government had brought the 480-acre Kadawa facility, previously outside the state’s direct management, back under its control and expanded its irrigation operations to other locations, including Thomas, Dambatta and Jikaradi.

On the persistent conflict between farmers and herders, Yanatsari said the state had established and demarcated about 1,270 kilometres of cattle routes across Kano to reduce encroachment on farmlands and minimise clashes.

He attributed the reported reduction in farmer-herder conflicts partly to the improved demarcation of livestock movement routes.

He said the combined interventions were aimed at repositioning agriculture as a major driver of economic growth, food security and employment, particularly in rural communities where farming remains a primary source of livelihood.