A training program has been introduced by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) to help women processors improve their methods for parboiling rice and increase the process's value addition.Additionally, 150 farmer learning clusters in 20 Local Government Areas received inputs from the initiative in preparation for their vegetable cultivation for the 2023–2024 Dry Season.
This project expands on the 150 demonstration tomato, onion, and cabbage clusters that were recently established by the project throughout the state's vegetable-producing areas.
Speaking at the course's launch in the local government areas of Rogo and Karaye, project coordinator Abdulrasheed Kofar-mata stated that the training is essential given the antiquated nature of previous procedures, which typically lead to losses.
Kofar-mata emphasized how important it is to continue training smallholder farmers and increasing their productivity in order to boost output and end hidden hunger.
In 20 LGAs throughout the state, 40 women were chosen from rice processing groups to participate in this new training effort, he added, which will directly benefit 120 trainees by sharing the knowledge and skills they have gained.
Prior to this, Engr. Sadiq Hamman, Program Officer for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture at KSADP-Sasakawa, emphasized the notable disparity in income between parboilers employing conventional and enhanced techniques.
He said that women actively participate in rice parboiling, contributing almost 70% of the overall labor, and that those using modern techniques earned an average of ₦ 10,235 every parboiling cycle, compared to ₦ 2,489 for the former.
Modern parboiling techniques reduce breakage and bran loss, which raises yields and expands the trainees' potential profit. Increased rice production quality is one of the advantages of improved parboiling technique training. Modern techniques result in fewer breakage and bran loss and produce rice of greater quality.
"We have also improved profitability: Higher yields and lower losses result in higher earnings for female processors. Better livelihoods: The training helps to improve rural communities' standard of living by giving women useful skills and information.
Mallama Hadiza Abdu Falgore, one of the intervention's beneficiaries, expressed confidence that the capacity development will help them develop their abilities even further.
According to a statement endorsed by Moses Nongoatse, the project's communications officer, KSADP is still dedicated to fostering the expansion and advancement of Kano State's rice value chain.