By Dotun Ibiwoye

World Bank has disbursed N209 million to over 3,000 farmers in Kano State from the World Bank Assisted Commercial Agriculture Development Project.

The project was said to promote Draught Tolerant Maize, DTM, in the traditionally non-maize growing areas, using and adoption of System of Rice Intensification, SRI, amongst rice farmers.

It resulted in an average yield increase from 2.7 metric ton to 3.6 metric ton per hectare.

World Bank’s Senior Operations Specialist and Task Team Leader of the project, Dr. Lucas Akapa, made this disclosure in a statement.

The beneficiaries from Kano State’s Commercial Agriculture Development Project, CADP, comprises 1,637 are males and 1,502 women.

Akapa said CADP encouraged the adoption of flash-drying technology by rice processors, reducing drying time from 12 hours to three per ton, which increased the production efficiency of beneficiaries and the satisfaction of clients.

He said: “Over 3,000 farmers have benefited from Commercial Agriculture Development Project, CADP, in Kano State.

“Of this number, 1,637 are males, while 1,502 women benefited. The beneficiaries received over N209 million from the World Bank-assisted project.

“These achievements are directly attributable to increased adoption of improved technologies.”