Tag: Sasakawa Africa

Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, with support from The Nippon Foundation (TNF), has organised Green Mega and Mini Field Days in  Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa to promote climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practice to boost food production and strengthen smallholder farmers.

In a statement by Communication Officer Moses Nongoatse, the association noted that the field days are live events where over 3,000 farmers witnessed results of innovative farming integrating maize and soybean strip cropping with agronomic practice, conservation agriculture, and integrated soil fertility management.

Techniques such as use of biochar, plant spacing, mulching, and adoption of improved seed varieties, including Provitamin A maize and high-yielding soybean , were showcased.

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These interventions, implemented under SAA’s thematic areas of Regenerative Agriculture, Market-Oriented Agriculture, and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, are to enhance productivity, boost soil health, and help farmers adapt to climate change and malnutrition.

Speaking at the Mid-Season Review Meeting at Ministry of Agriculture in Makurdi, SAA Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, described the events as crucial learning platforms for knowledge exchange and technology dissemination.

“Field days are instruments that catalyse learning and innovation in agricultural value chain. They enable us to interact directly with farmers and scale up improved practice that drive productivity and resilience,” Dr. Atser said.

In Gombe State, the event attracted participation from farmers, officials, development partners, and monarchs.

Representing Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Barnabas Malle, Director of Agric Services, Ibrahim Sajo, praised SAA for its contributions to agricultural growth.

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria has facilitated the deployment of 12 combine harvesters, Hijet mini vans, and smart irrigation systems to Kano State as part of its efforts to enhance agricultural productivity.

The initiative, funded by the Islamic Development Bank, Lives and Livelihoods Fund, and the Kano State Government, also included full welding and fabrication kits to support local farm equipment fabricators.

These tools and equipment are set to be used by the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) to boost farming productivity in rural areas.

Speaking at a high-level workshop on agricultural transformation, SAA Chairman, Dr. Amit Roy, highlighted the organisation’s ongoing commitment to innovation and resilience in agriculture.

He noted that the KSADP project, a collaboration between the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, and Kano State Government, is aimed at creating resilient agro-pastoral systems.

Dr. Roy emphasised the achievements of the KSADP project, stating that SAA has played a key role in the crop value chain component, addressing low agricultural productivity, poor soil conditions, and climate change.

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SAA President, Dr. Makoto Kitanaka, underscored the organisation’s focus on addressing critical challenges like climate change, rising fertiliser prices, and soil health while ensuring that farmers’ voices are heard.

He also stressed importance of creating jobs, particularly for women and youth, within the agricultural value chain.

SAA Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, said the KSADP project has enhanced productivity and competitiveness of cereals and vegetables in Kano State. The project has also established 5,348 clusters for capacity building, created agro-processing centres, solar drying facilities, and strengthened market linkages for farmers.

He said: “the project had established and supported 5,348 clusters with capacity building and inputs for grains/vegetables production enhancement, and 1,237 clusters to strengthen seed system.

“Also, it has established 54 agro-processing centres, three parabolic vegetable solar drying centres, and 23 onion solar drying facilities; trained and empowered the benefitting communities with starter-packs.

Dr. Atser added that the project has made substantial progress in improving the livelihoods of farmers in Kano, and the meeting served as a platform to explore further engagement and scaling of successful initiatives.