A Flourishing Harvest: How Laraba Muhammad Beat the Pests and Boosted Her Farm
Climate change is reshaping agricultural landscapes, with rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall paving the way for invasive crop pests. In Nigeria, these relentless invaders threaten food security and livelihoods, particularly in Kano State. However, a beacon of hope has emerged in the form of the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development (KSADP) Project - a US$ 90 million crop value chain intervention funded by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development in addition to IsDB and other partners through the Phase-1 of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund in 44 local government areas.
Launched in 2019 in collaboration with the Government of Nigeria, the 5-year KSADP has empowered farmers like Laraba Muhammad to reclaim their fields and secure their futures.
Laraba Muhammad, a 40-year-old rice farmer, had long witnessed the devastation wrought by pests on her small farm. Traditional methods and ineffective chemical pesticides offered little respite. With KSADP's arrival, hope, however, blossomed. Laraba enrolled in a specialized Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training program, opening her eyes to a holistic approach that prioritized environmental sustainability while effectively controlling pests.
Empowered with new knowledge, Laraba meticulously monitored her crops, proactively employing natural pest control methods. When necessary, she opted for minimal-impact options like Neem Extract, minimizing environmental contamination and safeguarding her family's health. The results were transformative. Infestation rates plummeted, yielding healthier and more bountiful harvests. Laraba's production doubled, bringing financial stability, and revitalizing her community.
Laraba's journey is not an isolated one. As more farmers in KSADP-targeted areas embrace IPM practices, the collective impact is undeniable. Crops flourish, the environment thrives, and livelihoods prosper. Laraba's story serves as a testament to the collaboration the Lives and Livelihoods in overcoming adversity. In the face of a changing climate, KSADP and its IPM program are showing Nigerian farmers the path towards a resilient and sustainable future.
The Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) is the biggest flagship program contributed to by ISFD to reduce poverty in LDMCs through projects in Agriculture, Health, and Social Infrastructure. LLF is a US$2.5 billion development initiative launched in 2016 and funded by an unprecedented global coalition including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). As the largest development initiative in the Middle East, its goal is to lift the poorest out of poverty across 33 IsDB member countries by addressing nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
