Agriculture is the major productive sector of the economy not only of Kano but the whole of Nigeria. Most of the people of Kano depend on agriculture for their livelihood. In the pre-colonial period Kano was considered as the garden of the Central Africa with the potential of feeding the whole area. And a European explorer even suggested that it was un-strategic for Europe to ignore it . Dr. Heinrich Barth noted that:
We must remember that the province is one of the most fertile spots on earth, and is able to produce not only the supply of corn necessary fro its population, but can also export, and that it possesses, besides, the finest pasture-grounds. In fact, if we consider that this industry is not carried on here, as in Europe, in immense establishments, degrading man to the meanest condition of life, but that it gives employment and support to families without compelling them to sacrifice their domestic habits, we must presume that Kano ought to be one of the happiest countries in the world .
The economy was integrative. The entrepreneurs combined agricultural production, craft manufacture and long distant trade thus making Kano the richest province of the Sokoto Caliphate the most prosperous state of pre-colonial tropical Africa.
Colonial rule was designed to appropriate the resources of the colonized for the benefit of the colonial power as well as to impose the alien culture of the colonialists. The economy was forcefully incorporated into the global economy dominated by imperial Britain. Export crops were introduced for this purpose. The peasants had to produce these crops because they must pay tax to the colonial state even at the expense of producing food for subsistence. It became necessary for the state to provide the infrastructure for transportation of the crops hence the railway was constructed using among other means-forced labor. The railway reached Kano in 1912 . It came with another set of social infrastructure for non-Muslim semi-skilled laborers leading to the establishment of Sabon Gari and later its libertarian facilities. The railway helped Kano in certain ways by boosting commercial activities thus precipitating intellectual development indirectly because of relative prosperity compared to other provinces . Groundnuts production also increased with the arrival of the railway and since then Kano became the leading center of its production, by producing over half a million tones during years of good harvest.
In 1941, the West African Produce Board was created in order to ensure the continuous flow of cheap agricultural products to a war torn Europe. Success recorded in this policy necessitated the establishment of Marketing Boards in 1947, with the new agenda of stabilizing the prices of export crops. This also led to the establishment of industries such as oil mills and commercial service sector making Kano the leading center of banking and insurance services in Northern Nigeria. Kano also became the richest province in the defunct northern region generating 95% of its revenue internally . It was buoyant enough to maintain its workforce of 5000 largely because of its productive economy. It should be noted that before the discovery of oil Nigeria depended on revenue from export crops. In 1970 “the highest level of the civil service, including the government’s senior staff, received the equivalent of US$4147 to US$9,360” . This was when oil was not a major contributor to the revenue (see table 1 below). Today the economy has been so much distorted because of reliance on oil revenue and the government cannot even pay an equivalent wage that of 1970.
The road transport sector was also closely connected to the commodities business. Kano was the leading center of Association of Licensed Buying Agents and Transporters (ALBAT) whose members were prosperous merchants and transporters. They also established Northern Merchants Transporters Syndicate the largest syndicate company to facilitate their businesses.
Table 1. CONTRIBUTION OF OIL TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE, 1958-90
|
Total Federal Govt. (N’000) Revenue |
Revenue from oil |
Oil share of total revenue % |
1958-9 |
154,632 |
122 |
0.08 |
1959-60 |
177,648 |
1,776 |
1.00 |
1960-1 |
223,700 |
2,452 |
1.10 |
1961-2 |
228,962 |
17,070 |
7.46 |
1962-3 |
231,638 |
16,938 |
7.31 |
1963-4 |
249,152 |
10,060 |
4.04 |
1964-5 |
299,132 |
16,084 |
5.38 |
1965-6 |
321,870 |
29,175 |
9.06 |
1966-7 |
339,196 |
44,976 |
18.26 |
1967-8 |
300,176 |
41,884 |
13.95 |
1968-9 |
299,986 |
29,582 |
13.95 |
1969-70 |
435,908 |
75,444 |
17.31 |
1970-1 |
755,605 |
196,390 |
25.99 |
1971-2 |
1,410,811 |
740,185 |
52.46 |
1972-3 |
1,389,911 |
576,151 |
41.45 |
1973-4 |
2,171,370 |
1,549,383 |
71.36 |
1974-5 |
5,177,370 |
4,183,816 |
80.81 |
1975-6 |
5,861,600 |
4,611,700 |
78.70 |
1976-7 |
7,070,400 |
5,965,500 |
77.20 |
1977-8 |
8,358,900 |
5,965,500 |
71.40 |
1978-9 |
7,252,400 |
4,809,200 |
66.30 |
1979-80 |
12,273,400 |
10,100,400 |
82.30 |
1980-1 |
15,813,100 |
14,936,900 |
81.20 |
1981-2 |
10,143,900 |
8,847,800 |
67.50 |
1982-3 |
10,811,400 |
7,253,000 |
67.00 |
1983-4 |
11,738,500 |
8,209,700 |
69.93 |
1984-5 |
15,041,800 |
10,915,100 |
72.65 |
1985-6 |
12,302,000 |
8,107,300 |
65.90 |
1986-7 |
25,099,800 |
19,027,000 |
75.80 |
1987-8 |
27,310,800 |
20,933,800 |
76.65 |
1988-9 |
50,272,100 |
41,334,400 |
82.22 |
1989-90 |
47,657,000 |
46,244,000 |
97.24 |
(Source: Osaghae 1998: 20)
The first government of Kano State consolidated the economic base of the state by making investments in agricultural infrastructure. The first governor under Alhaji Audu Bako constructed the Tiga Dam one of the largest in the country and it initiated the Kano River Irrigation Project, which later became a federal project. It also set up several pilot farm projects for poultry, beef and diary production. The famous Kano farm center was a beehive of agricultural activities. With the oil boom and diversion from agriculture subsequent state administrations could not even pay salaries without federal subventions. It was in realization of this fact that during second republican dispensation in Nigeria the civil administration of Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar established the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) and Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) in collaboration with the World Bank. This was in addition to the creation of a ministry for rural and community development. These efforts were in realization of the implication of over reliance on subventions from the federation account in order to carryout developmental programmes in the state. Suffice it to say that in the late 1980s an attempt was made to boost wheat production in Kano, but for the pressure of U.S.A, which necessarily forced the Babangida administration to acquiesce. During that period Kano went far in wheat production (see table 2 below) under the Accelerated Wheat Production Programme of Group Captain Ndatsu Umaru with the assistance of the Federal Military Government.
Another significant move was the effort put by Colonel Dominic Obukadata Oneya in the late 1990s to reintroduce agricultural trade fairs in Kano were made in a direction revolutionize agriculture sector. It is in a similar vein that the present administration of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has made agricultural development one of its cardinal programs under its human development project.
The target of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration is to enhance the performance of this important sector of the economy through:
- The timely supply of subsidized inputs to small-scale farmers in the rural areas. In order to meet these needs the government would make a large order of fertilizers and chemicals. And it would also improve the services of the fertilizer blending plants and if possible establish a separate company.
- Improving the capacity of the farmers through efficient and continuous extension services. This is because it is the key to agricultural development since it is the linkage between the farmer and research. It also needs to be effective at the farm level or else it will be a total failure . It is should also be noted that it was this method of effective extension and cooperation between the government and farmers that brought about self-sufficiency in other societies that hitherto even experienced severe shortages. One of such countries was Indonesia where self-sufficiency in rice was achieved through effective government cooperation with farmers associations . Farmers’ capacities shall also be improved by encouraging them to organize themselves into cooperative groups so that they could benefit from credit facilities thus expanding their income base. Cooperative farming is a successful "application of ideal brotherhood" and if properly coordinated it could be "an efficient arrangement for agricultural production" . The administration will encourage and facilitate the utilization of facilities at the National Agricultural and Rural Development Bank by our farmers and their cooperatives.
- The pursuance of a policy that will ensure all year round farming by rehabilitating existing dams and constructing and reactivation of irrigation structures. The success of the fadama scheme will be consolidated and every year more sites shall be brought under the project so as to expand all year employment opportunities for our teeming youths.
- Improving the performance of KNARDA and KASCO the key agricultural organizations of the state by among other ways encouraging them to work with international organizations such as SASAKAWA for professional and technical assistance.
- Introduction of mass demonstration farm schemes at all the local government areas to help incorporate our teeming unemployed youths for the purpose of making them self reliant and also boosting food production
- Rehabilitation of existing tractors and machinery as well as purchasing new ones, this is because of the low level of mechanization in the agricultural sector. Only about 1% of Nigeria’s agriculture is mechanized despite her large population. About forty years ago the Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto noted this with great sympathy how the peasants engage in manual agriculture:
There is so much to be done to develop this country that sometimes it leaves me quite dismayed. As I drive along the roads and see the simple villagers in their farms, I see what a lot there is to be done to raise the standard of these good people to what it should be. I see the men working in their farms with the same kind of hoe that their fathers and their grandfathers used before them. They are bent double over their work in the blazing sunshine and their wives and children come and help them. What can we do to make things easier?
- Ensuring price stability of farm produce through the establishment of Kano Food Corporation that will buy farm produce from farmers. It is expected to commence with the stocking of 500 tons of produce at each local government area and 3000 tons at the state level.
- Improving the micro-finance schemes in the agricultural sector because of the effectiveness of such schemes in other sectors and other societies while at the same time noting their shortcomings. In this respect the administration shall make local government councils to provide at least 50 loan packages of one pair of work bull, a ridger and optimal animal drawn cart. This will cost a local government about N2,250,000 per annum. The state government is expected to provide the training for work bull handling at the cost of N2,750,000 per annum for 2200 set of farmers annually. The state government is also expected to fund the training of 100 blacksmiths annually on modern techniques for fabrication of hand tools and animal drawn implements. The facilities in Danbatta and Tukwui can provide such training. There are also many blacksmiths who have the capacity but they require the training for example there is a blacksmith in Gurjiya village in Minjibir Local Government Area who fabricates several dozens of animal drawn carts annually.
- Massive advocacy campaigns to mobilize women to participate in poultry production and other members of the society to engage in horticulture, fishery, plantation and storage projects which have been tried in other parts of the world through the introduction of new and affordable techniques. Even in Nigeria the success of the Dawanau market in Kano State is informed by its ability to provide storage facilities. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration is committed to encouraging such facilities at the state and the local government levels. This advocacy and sensitization shall be continuous through out the tenure of the administration and it shall involve all sectors of the society including state organs such as media houses as well as community-based organizations.
- Consolidating the gains of the PTF project for grazing reserve and stock routes with due consultation with local communities, traditional leaders and community based organization such as Myetti Allah. These organizations have helped in resolution of conflicts between farmers and cattle herders some of whom are from neighboring countries. A good example is the village head of Makoda who is also an active member of Myetti Allah he used his dual role at one time to resolve a conflict between the herders from Niger Republic and local farmers.
- Improving veterinary services by providing revolving fund for drugs and mass vaccination of cattle herds since Kano is an important supplier of this product to various locations of the country. The administration shall also rehabilitate the Nigerian Meat and Allied Products Company at Challawa with the view of making it more viable.
In order to achieve the objectives outlined in the previous section, the Shekarau administration moved swiftly and made all the necessary appointments and also provided the atmosphere, for effective implementation of its policies. The various sectors and agencies of agriculture recorded the following achievements:
The following achievements, which are in line with the objectives of the Shekarau administration, were recorded:
One hundred acres of maintenance work was carried out at the Bunkure Irrigation project. This involved the laterite filling of farm road, distilling of about 500 meters length of channels, manual excavation and provision of five temporary channels at the new extension and western end of the project area. This work was completed in November 2003.
The state government has ordered 100,000 tons of fertilizer worth about N4 billion for distribution to farmers next planting session at 50% subsidized rate of N1000 per bag. The government’s decision was informed by the demand of fertilizer in the state put at over 200000 tons per annum. The demand for the whole of Nigeria stands at over two million tons per annum. And no Kano State administration has ever ordered more than 10000 tons per annum. This is the first time in the history of the state such an effort was made hence it has attracted widespread attention commendation from those interested in development and cynicism of detractors and opponents. Critics castigated Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration for violating the appropriation law. But this cannot withstand interrogation since the existing appropriation law made a provision of N1.7 billion for the fertilizer and the contribution of the state government to the N4 billion is actually N600 million the balance is to paid by the Local Government Councils and the farmers. This is possible since all the fertilizer will not arrive at a time.
The state government distributed 1,680 tons of fertilizer it received from the Federal Government to dry season farmers at fadama sites and also to Fadama Users Association. Mobile sales of the commodity were carried out at 14 selected fadama and irrigation sites. The breakdown was as follows:
Mobile Sales 480 tons
Sales to 88 Fadama Users Associations 850 tons
Sales at Kadawa Farm Center 120 tons
In line with Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration objective of human development the state government paid N21127073.51 as part of its contribution to the Leventis Foundation School at Panda. This amount is for the running of the school in the year 2003. The school has been training Kano State indigenes in various fields of agriculture.
As part of its cardinal objective of food security and sustainable human development Kano State Government under the leadership of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau released the sum of over One hundred and fifty million naira (N150000000) for purchase of grains from farmers. This was to assist the farmers to grow more in future and stabilize the prices of grains in the market. And the contract for the supply of the commodities was awarded over 160 people so that more people would be involved thereby spreading the benefits to a large segment of the populace.
Also in line with the cardinal objective of alleviating the sufferings of the common people the Kano State government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau released 2,304 tons of assorted grains and sold them to the general public in the densely populated metropolitan local government areas of the state at subsidized rates. Twenty-five tons of rice was also allocated to the flood victims at Gangarbi village of Rogo Local Government Area.
In its effort of diversifying agricultural production the state government executed the following activities at the Bagauda Fish farm at the cost of N2142321 they were:
- The rehabilitation of indoor and outdoor fish hatchery complex
- Two production ponds were completed, seven others were de-silted and predator screen devices were constructed in three ponds.
- Brood stocks of Heterotis, Gymnacus and Heterobronchus fish species were sourced for raising fingerlings for re-stocking of dams and sales to fish farmers.
The following activities were carried out:
- Baling of rice straw and grass hay for feeding livestock during the dry season was carried out at Bunkure, Kadawa, Bagauda, Tiga and Dangora livestock development centers. The tractor and baling machines were also rehabilitated.
- The following Veterinary Hospitals were repaired; Danbatta Veterinary Hospital at the cost of N650,507, Dawakin Tofa Veterinary Hospital at the cost of N1,049,294, Gwale Veterinary Hospital at the cost of N147,267 and Gaya Veterinary at the cost of N988,439 Hospital. The Falgore Control Post and Cattle Market was also repaired at the cost of N537935.
- Vaccination against the contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia was conducted mainly on cattle at the cost of N2500000. This successfully covered 400,000 herds of cattle.
In line with its cardinal objective of enhancing agricultural production by easing the hardship of the farmers the state government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau procured an unprecedented number of 50 tractors from Steyr Bauchi. And also in line with its fundamental principle of accountability and transparency the tractors were bought at the cost of N106562771.80 and the transport cost was N1.7million. Forty-four of the tractors were distributed to the local government councils and the remaining six were added to the tractor hire services of the ministry of agriculture (See figures 1 and 2). The last time the state purchased tractors was almost a decade ago and any observer could compare the prices. Some agrarian states of the federation never made such purchase in decades of their existence under military or democratic administrations.
KANO STATE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
This is the key agricultural agency of the state and the government gave the priority it deserved during the period under review. The organization carried the following activities as its contribution to the development of this sector.
As one of the important areas of specialization of this agency, it properly used the mass media to enlighten the teeming farmers of Kano State. A total of 30 programmes were aired on television and 63 on radio. KNARDA also produced an unprecedented number of 6000 technical guides on tomatoes, pepper, carrot, wheat and onions and distributed them to members of the public.
The information and communication support center, which is a project supported by USAID and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was renovated. The principal video producer of the center was sponsored for a week’s computer editing training at IITA office.
The center was established in a realization to the fact information is power and there is the need to make it available to those who need it. This is in order to achieve the state’s agricultural goals. As part of its development the center reached an advanced stage in establishing a second facility at Dawanau Market. It also aims to provide the latest information on crop and livestock production as well as market information using the Internet.
Kano State Government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau released adequate funds for the rehabilitation of Watari dam damaged by heavy rain of 2003 rainy season. This is part of its programme of enhancing the capacities of irrigation facilities in the state. The canal was de-silted and was cleared of weeds outgrowth, which had rendered un-sable sectors 1&2 of the distributory channels. Also as part of the priority attached to extension services the water users associations were revived and made more functional.
As part of its efforts of enhancing the capacity and empowering communities based on its human development objectives Kano State Government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau linked women groups to agricultural institutions. These groups secured loans of over half a million naira.
The Federal Government of Nigeria signed an agreement with the Food and Agricultural Organization on the 6th of May 2003 for a project. The stated objective of this project is to build the capacity for farmers’ participatory training and the empowerment of smallholder farmers especially women farmers. This is to be achieved through:
- The implementation of farmers’ field schools for integrated production and pest management practices for sustainable food production, improved food security, family nutrition and enhanced household incomes.
- Better management of available natural resources and inputs and establishment of farmer forums to facilitate sharing of food production knowledge and experience.
As part of its human development programme Kano State Government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau vigorously pursued rural institutional development through KNARDA. The first step towards this was the formation and registering twelve farmers associations between July and December 2003 these associations form the bedrock of the rural institutional reforms.
Also under this programme fifty-two units of fadama loan packages worth over a million naira were given to farmers. These loans assisted farmers to cultivate additional 104 hectares of fadama land.
The livestock unit of KNARDA treated 11,896 livestock and poultry on major diseases. These diseases include Coccidiosis, Newcastle disease, Pneumonia, Diarrhea and fowl cholera. A total of 4,558 local chickens were vaccinated against Newcastle disease in the state.
Fifty-four farmers were assisted with technical aid to start up poultry farm. Follow up services were being provided on poultry production management and disease control.
In its efforts of economic empowerment through sustainable environmental management Kano State Government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau made KNARDA to raise 5,000 seedlings of economic trees. Below is the break down of the seedlings raised:
Mangoes 3000
Citrus 1500
Guava 1000 (jumbo variety)
Custard Apple 500
Cashew and others 2000
- Ten grounded vehicles were repaired in line with the government’s objective of resuscitating maintenance tradition.
- KNARDA headquarters was connected to water supply.
- Commencement of rehabilitation of zonal headquarters
- Survey and redesign of Jalli Dam Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area
- Distribution of crop, livestock and poultry production packages to farmer groups in Tassa, Tarai and Kwasauri villages under the special programme on food security.
- Fertilizer distribution to farmers and farmer groups
- Training of 300 women on income generation activities and provision of take off materials
KANO STATE AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY COMPANY (KASCO)
Kano State government under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau fulfilled its commitment to the enhancing of the services of KASCO by providing N134million for upgrading the fertilizer blending plant. The governor commissioned the on the 9th of January 2004 (See figure 3 below). This upgrading will result in doubling the fertilizer out put of KASCO.
KANO STATE ZOOLOGICAL AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
In order to carry out its functions efficiently the agency purchased office furniture and equipments during the period under review (from the inception of the current administration). Other activities carried out were:
- Buildings; repair of two collapsed wall fences at the western side of the Audu Bako Zoo
- Communications; installation of intercoms within the Audu Bako Zoo as well as walkie talky between Falgore Game Reserve and Audu Bako Zoo
- Renovation of pens; 18 pens and cages were renovated and water connections were established at over N3,000,000
- Uniforms; these were provided to junior staff
- Restocking; to boast the animal population of the Audu Bako Zoo, which has been dwindling through purchase, confiscation and donations.
Akhtar, M. R. 1993 ‘Modelling the Economic Growth of an Islamic Economy’ American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 10: 4: 498.
Barth, H. 1965 Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa Volume 1 London
Bello, Ahmadu 1962 My Life London
Danyaro, M. 1997 Kano State: 30 Years of Statehood 30th Anniversary Publication, Ministry of Information Kano State
Fika, A. M. 1978 Kano Civil War and the British Over-rule Ibadan.
Hunwick, J. O. 1995 Arabic Literature of Sudanic Africa Vol. II: Writings of Central Sudanic Africa E. J. Brill Leiden
Iliffe, J. 1995. Africans: The History of A Continent. Cambridge.
Naniya, T. M. 1995 ‘Pre-Colonial Kano: An Assessment’ Kano Studies (NS) 3: 2
Nelson, H. O. et al. 1972 Area Handbook for Nigeria Washington
Niven, R. 1970 The War of Nigerian Unity
Osaghae, E. O. (1998) Crippled Giant: Nigeria Since Independence London
Ostheimer, J. M. (1973) Nigerian Politics New York
Paden, J. N. 1986 Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto: Values and Leadership. Zaria.
Rivera, W. M. and Schran, S. G. (eds) 1987 Agricultural Extension Worldwide
Rolling, N. and Brouwers, J. 1999 ‘Living Local Knowledge for Sustainable Development’ in Prain, G., Fujisaka, S. and Warren, M. (eds) Biological and Cultural Diversity: The Role of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge in Development Exeter
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Office: Off Post Office Road, P.M.B 3078 KANO
Telephones: 064-630532,640543,645436
Email: manrkano@yahoo.co.uk
Honorable Commissioner: Alhaji Alhassan Dawaki
Permanent Secretary: Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed
Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA)
Managing Director: Muhammad Umar Kura
Kano State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO)
Managing Director: Ibrahim Yusuf Gama
Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency
Zoo Road P. M. B. 3078 Kano
Telephone: 064-664432
General Manager: Musa Nuhu Kwali
Barth 1965
Barth 1965 cited in Naniya 1995
Illife 1995
Fika 1978
Hunwick 1995
Niven 1970
Paden 1986
Nelson et al 1972: 95
Rivera and Schran 1987: 281
Roling and Brouwers 1999: 149
Akhtar 1993: 498
Ostheimer 1973: 145 Bello 1962: 237
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