Farmers in Bauchi State have welcomed the introduction of a smart agriculture education programme by the Savanna Institute for Sustainable Development (SISDev), describing it as a renewed approach to farming.

The initiative, implemented with the support of the Soil Values Project funded by the International Fertiliser Development Corporation (IFDC), has provided farmers and extension agents with hands-on training on soil health, water conservation, and natural resource management.

SISDev has conducted a statewide sensitisation exercise reaching 25 smallholder farmers in the Ningi Local Government Area. 

The programme equips extension agents with soil testing kits and digital tools to enhance their ability to train farmers on modern, sustainable farming practices.

According to Mr Isiaka Ibrahim, Project Team Lead at SISDev, the organisation has trained 50 extension agents and lead farmers across Bauchi State, who are now cascading their knowledge to local communities.

“We are in Ningi to supervise and monitor the cascade training. Both the extension agents and trainees are performing very well because this is a practical, field-based training,” he explained.

Ibrahim stated that the training is designed to equip lead farmers with practical skills in sustainable agricultural technologies, including soil restoration, integrated pest management, and water conservation.

He added that the farmers also learned techniques such as integrated soil fertility management, the half-moon farming system, mulching, zai/compost pits, and the use of neem seed for organic pest control.

“With fertiliser prices rising, smallholder farmers can now use composting to create organic manure, which is environmentally friendly and a potential source of income.” 

Ibrahim noted that the collaboration between SISDev and Soil Values has provided vital technical and financial support.

Farmers who benefited from the training said the initiative has transformed agricultural practices in their communities and boosted productivity.

One of the beneficiaries, Mainuna Hassan, said she learned how to recycle farm residues into organic fertiliser, significantly improving her yields.

Another farmer, Mama Mairam, said the new methods helped reduce wastage and enhance productivity. 

“Before the intervention, our yields were low, but we have now achieved great results. We’ve learned how to retain soil moisture and use fertiliser efficiently,” she said.

The programme has particularly empowered women farmers to adopt techniques that make farming less strenuous and more profitable.

Similarly, another participant, Hashim Waziri, said the new water conservation techniques have helped farmers preserve soil moisture and sustain their crops during dry seasons.

“We were taught to make holes in the ground to store excess water through mulching, which has reduced wastage and improved crop growth,” she said.

Waziri commended SISDev for the intervention and pledged to extend the training to other farmers in her community.

The SISDev–Soil Values Programme is part of a broader effort to strengthen climate resilience in Sahelian countries facing drought, desertification, and socio-economic challenges.

Source: NAN