By Olaide Ayinde

Some farmers in Bauchi said the introduction of a smart agric education programme by the Savanna Institute for Sustainable Development (SISDev) would revolutionise agriculture in the state.

The programme is being implemented with support of the Soil Values project funded by the International Fertiliser Development Corporation (IFDC).

SISDev is sensitising farmers and extension agents on smart agriculture through practical sessions focused on soil health, water conservation and natural resource management.

This initiative equips extension agents with tools like soil testing kits and tablets to enhance their ability to train farmers on modern, sustainable farming practices.

The organisation has embarked on a statewide sensitisation programme with 25 smallholder farmers benefiting from the intervention in Ningi Local Government Area. The exercise exposed farmers to soil restoration, conservation techniques, integrated soil fertility and integrated pest management.

It aims to improve soil fertility and restore degraded lands in Bauchi State, the development comes on the heels of similar exercises held in Kano and Jigawa.
SISDev-Soil Values programme operates in a context marked by climatic and socio-economic challenges facing Sahelian countries, such as recurrent droughts, socio-political conflicts. desertification and the effects of climate change.
The programme’s initiative is built around three intervention pathways (Agroecology, Inclusive Markets and Enabling Environment) as well as five intervention areas: bundling, integration, brokering, convening and scoping/learning.

Mr Isiaka Ibrahim, Project Team Lead, SISDev, said this during a farm demonstration exercise on Wednesday in Ningi, Bauchi State.

He said the organisations had earlier trained 50 extension agents and lead farmers in Bauchi, who were expected to cascade the skills in the communities across the 20 local government areas of the state..

“We are here in Ningi to supervise and monitor the EAs to lead farmers’ cascade training. We are here to see whether the EAs can impact what we have impacted on them in Bauchi.

“Both the EAs and the trainee’s performance is very satisfactory because the EAs are really trying, and this is a practical training, a farmer field school where the EA for Ningi trains them on our demonstration plot,” he said.

According to Ibrahim, the project objective is to empower lead farmers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to support smallholder farmers in their communities.

The exercise, he said, availed the participants opportunities to learn viable sustainable agricultural technologies, including soil restoration methods, water conservation techniques, and integrated pest management.

He said the demonstration exercise is designed to share information via hands-on practical learning, equip lead farmers with tools and knowledge, to encourage them to adopt innovative practices toward enhancing productivity and promote sustainability.

Ibrahim said the farmers also received training on integrated soil fertility management, half moon system of farming and its advantages, mulching, zai/compost pit, application of neem seed for pest management and other traditional means.

“Now that fertiliser is too expensive, smallholder farmers can use the composting system to create their own manure, and sell it as a means of getting income.

“It is organic in nature, environmentally friendly, and helps to stem climate change.

“The collaboration between SISDev and Soil Value is very excellent because we are appreciating both the technical and financial support,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the gesture, adding it would transform agriculture and encourage productivity towards achieving food security in the country.

Mainuna Hassan, a farmer, said that she learnt how to recycle farm residues and transform it into an effective organic fertiliser.

Hassan said she acquired practical skills to improve her farming activities and increase output.

Another farmer, Mama Mairam, said the introduction of new techniques assisted farmers to significantly reduce wastage and increase yields per hectre.

“SisDev – Soil Value has brought tremendous progress. Before the intervention, we were getting low yield but it has improved and achieved great results now.

“We’ve learned improved methods of local fertiliser application and how to retain soil moisture effectively so that our crops can thrive even with limited water,” she said.

Mairam noted that the intervention resulted to remarkable transformation of women farmers in the area.

“Women farmers are adopting new techniques which make farm less cumbersome and profitable.

Also, Hashim Waziri said the new water conservation skills enabled farmers to nurture their plantations, reduce wastage and boost crop production.

She said that farmers were taught on how to make hole on ground to reserve excess water for the plant through mulching, especially during dry season farming.

While commending the gesture, Waziri promised to step down the skills to other farmers in the communities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali