News in brief:
– Approximately 1,000 youths in Kano State are being trained to convert rice straw into livestock feed, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
– The initiative aims to reduce environmental pollution and create income opportunities through 200 production hubs.
The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has commenced training 1,000 youths on converting rice straw into livestock feed, a move aimed at enhancing employment opportunities and mitigating environmental pollution in the state.
The training, which is taking place at the Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta, is supported by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund. It targets mainly youths from rice-producing communities across the state.
Turning waste into wealth
Speaking at the launch of the programme, State Project Coordinator of KSADP Ibrahim Muhammad said the training is crucial for sustainable agriculture and income generation.
“By educating youths on alternatives to burning rice straw—such as composting and processing it into livestock feed—we’re reducing pollution and opening up economic opportunities,” he said.
He emphasised that increased availability of locally produced livestock feed will not only boost food security but also reduce nomadic movements that often trigger farmer-herder conflicts in the state.
From burnt straw to profitable feed
Muhammad highlighted that while rice production in Kano has grown, the beneficial use of rice straw remains low. Most farmers either burn the straw to clear fields for dry-season farming or use it for thatching.
“Rice straw can be treated with urea and transformed into nutritious feed for livestock. This can help achieve reasonable weight gains in animals and also increase the value of agricultural by-products,” he noted.
Also, to ensure sustainability, KSADP will establish 200 rice straw feed production hubs around irrigation schemes. Each group of five youths will be provided with a grant or credit package to cover the cost of machines, materials, and logistics.
“We’ve already procured machines. During the harvest season, each group is expected to produce and sell at least 500 metric tonnes of urea-treated rice straw feed,” Muhammad said.
This initiative is expected to improve access to affordable feed for livestock farmers while creating viable agri-business models for young people in Kano.
Audu Bako College backs the training
The Provost of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Prof. Muhammad Wailare, expressed his institution’s commitment to the programme, noting that the training will expose beneficiaries to simple, locally adaptable technologies.
“These technologies will help reduce pollution, support sustainable farming, and increase youth income,” he stated.
The rice straw utilisation initiative is part of broader efforts by the Kano State government to modernise agriculture, empower rural youth, and mitigate climate-related farming challenges.
