The International Fertiliser Development Corporation (IFDC) has commenced the training of 50 extension agents and lead farmers in Bauchi State on soil restoration, conservation techniques, and integrated soil fertility management.
The two-day training, held under the Soil Values Programme, seeks to improve soil fertility and restore degraded farmlands across the Sahel region. Similar exercises have already taken place in Kano and Jigawa States.
The programme is designed to strengthen food security, improve crop yields, and promote sustainable farming practices in northern Nigeria, where soil degradation, desertification, and climate change remain major challenges.
IFDC’s initiative restores 800,000 hectares of degraded land in Nigeria, benefiting 600,000 smallholder farmers, with a strong focus on women and youth.
According to Medina Ayuba-Fagbemi, Country Coordinator of the Soil Values Programme in Nigeria, the training would be delivered in two phases, with 30 extension agents participating in the first phase and 20 in the second.
She noted that participants would pass on the knowledge to about 20,000 smallholder farmers across Jama’are, Shira, Itas Gadau, Toro, Zaki, Bauchi and Gamawa Local Government Areas, exposing them to integrated soil fertility and health management techniques.
“This training reflects our commitment to restoring soil health, improving productivity, and building resilient farming systems,” Ayuba-Fagbemi said.
She added that the initiative is part of a 10-year programme funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with support from several international partners.
Joshua Arogunyo, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing (MELS) Coordinator of the programme, said the training also emphasised soil water conservation and agro-ecological practices to help farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change.
He explained that the programme, backed by a €100 million fund, is being implemented by IFDC, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), with knowledge support from partners including IITA, AGRA, ICRAF, ISRIC, and IWMI.
“Our target is to restore two million hectares of degraded land across the Sahel, covering Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. In Nigeria alone, we hope to restore 800,000 hectares,” Arogunyo stated.
Some participants expressed optimism about the training.
Aliyu Safiyanu said the techniques learned would help him guide rural farmers on how to use farm by-products to nourish the soil.
Similarly, Helen Ciroma said the training would enable women farmers to improve fertility and increase yields.
The Soil Values Programme is structured around three pathways: Agroecology, Inclusive Markets, and Enabling Environment, along with five intervention areas, including bundling, integration, brokering, convening, and learning.
Source: NAN
