The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has awarded a contract worth N88 million for the establishment of 20-hectare seed multiplication plots at Dudduru Grazing Reserve in the Ajingi Local Government Area of the state.

The contract, awarded to the National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, includes the establishment and management of seed plots, building of stores, security rooms, drying sheds, boreholes, installation of irrigation facilities and perimeter fencing.

KSADP Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, said the seeds to be produced are Hybrid Napier, Gamba grass and Cook Stylo which are native to tropical Africa and are important fodder crops for dairy farmers.

It was gathered that project is part of the revolution to improve food security, especially livestock production, by diversifying the Nigerian economy from oil to agriculture. 

“Fodder crops are key in the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry because the bulk of the animal protein, especially milk and meat consumed in the country, derives from cattle and small ruminants, which are essentially dependent on these crops.