In a bid to promote sustainable agriculture and generate employment, the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project has begun training 1,000 youths on converting rice straw into livestock feed.
The initiative, supported by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, targets youth from rice-producing communities across the state.
The training kicked off at the Audu Bako College of Agriculture in Dambatta, according to a statement by the Project’s Communication Specialist, Ameen Yassar.
Speaking at the event, the KSADP Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, highlighted the importance of the training, emphasizing that it not only creates economic opportunities for young people but also helps to reduce environmental pollution often caused by the burning of rice straw.
“Through this training, we aim to educate participants on alternative uses of rice straw — such as composting and livestock feeding — which can increase income and support environmentally friendly farming practices,” he said.
He further explained that the rising volume of rice production in the state has led to an abundance of straw, most of which is burned or used for traditional roofing. However, when treated with urea, the straw becomes a nutritious feed capable of contributing to livestock weight gain.
To support this effort, KSADP plans to establish 200 production hubs near irrigation schemes. Each hub, made up of five youths, will receive grants or credit facilities for machines, materials, and logistics to produce and distribute the urea-treated feed. The goal is for each group to process and sell up to 500 metric tonnes during the harvest season.
Machines for the production process have already been procured, the coordinator confirmed.
Also speaking at the launch, the Provost of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Professor Muhammad Wailare, said the institution is proud to partner in the initiative, noting that the training will equip beneficiaries with practical skills and simple technologies to convert agricultural waste into economic assets.
“This initiative supports sustainable farming and improves relations between farmers and herders by reducing competition over feed resources,” Prof. Wailare added.
