Over 1,000 youths in Kano State have commenced a specialized training on rice straw utilization for livestock feed, as part of a project implemented by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP).
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The initiative, which is being conducted at the Audu Bako College of Agriculture in Dambatta, is financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). It targets young people drawn primarily from rice-producing communities across the state.
Speaking during the launch of the training, the State Project Coordinator of KSADP, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, described the program as a step toward job creation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection.
“This training on rice straw utilization is crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture and creating economic opportunities,” he said. “By educating youths on alternative uses of rice straw such as composting and livestock feed we are not only tackling environmental pollution caused by burning straw but also opening doors for income generation.”
Malam Ibrahim noted that despite the rise in rice production across Kano, many farmers still burn leftover straw or use it for roofing, unaware that it can be treated and repurposed. According to him, urea-treated rice straw is a cost-effective feed option that can support healthy weight gain in livestock.
The project also aims to reduce nomadism, a practice often linked to farmer-herder conflicts in the region. “With more locally available livestock feed, there will be less movement in search of pasture, which can help minimize security challenges and improve relations between farmers and herdsmen,” he explained.
To further strengthen the intervention, KSADP plans to establish 200 production hubs near irrigation schemes. Each hub will be operated by groups of five youths who will receive support in the form of grants or credit to acquire machines, materials, and transportation for processing and selling urea-treated rice straw. Each group is expected to produce and market 500 metric tonnes of feed during the harvest season.
Also speaking at the event, the Provost of the Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Professor Muhammad Wailare, expressed his institution’s readiness to support the initiative. He said the training will expose participants to practical and simple technologies that not only ensure income generation but also promote eco-friendly agricultural practices.
