Centre For Dryland Agriculture Set To Promote Dryland Farming In Africa

The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) of Bayero University, Kano, has set a target to address the challenges facing Dryland Agriculture in Africa, as it affects food production and security.

The CDA Director, Professor Jibrin Mohammad Jibrin, gave this assurance at the second annual open day celebration of the center, organized to showcase its modest innovation and technological breakthroughs over the years.

Professor Jibrin noted, that CDA has excelled tremendously in the areas of knowledge transfer and research development, adding that its commitment to dryland production has attracted resources and funding from the World Bank and the French Agency for Development (AGD).

While explaining that CDA has trained over 530 PhD and Msc students, the majority of whom were drawn from 15 African countries, he added that there are several formidable networks of partnerships with international and regional institutions with interest.

According to professor Jibrin, “The Centre plans to establish a regional innovation, training, and entrepreneurship hub where youths will be trained in modern intensive agriculture and bio-resource entrepreneurship.

“This is aimed at facilitating the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises that will help in alleviating poverty and improving the livelihood of the inhabitants of the sub-region.”

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration and Establishment, Professor Mahmoud Umar Sani, revealed that the international recognition BUK earned through the CDA, from the World Bank and French Agency for Development (AGD), is in the region of $5 million.

The Vice Chancellor assured, while describing the CDA as a regional centre of excellence through consistent innovation and technological development, people of the university’s readiness to support the CDA with the necessary atmosphere that will enable it to strive to greater heights.

Part of the activities featured at the open day include an exhibition of farm produce of the CDA and other agricultural revolutions facilitated by the regional centre of excellence.

The occasion also witnessed the reward of hard work and excellent performance of both junior and senior staff with award presentations.

Similarly, the CDA used the occasion to reward five young entrepreneurs who showcased the best agribusiness plan and investment model pitch in the maiden edition of its AgriHacking 1.0 programme held earlier.