Muhammad Garba
A non-governmental organization known as Baba Azumi Foundation (BAF) in collaboration with Jigawa State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA) has trained 9,517 Smallholder women and young farmers on ecology-friendly agricultural practices known as Agroecology in the state.
Speaking during a round table discussion between the beneficiaries, representatives of the Foundation, and Jigawa state government officials held at Ahmadu Bello Hall Dutse, The chairman of Baba Azumi Foundation Barrister Aisha Jahun said, the program was aimed at providing the farmers with modern techniques of farming.
She explained that the new techniques included training the women on how to produce manure that can reduce the quantity of chemical fertilizer needed to boost soil fertility for more sustainable production.
According to her, environmentally friendly agroecology techniques are also cheaper and more profitable to the farmers
She added that the program was supported by partners known as ActionAid’s SPAC project.
In his speech at the occasion the Managing Director JARDA Alhaji Imam Muhammad, said, the Jigawa government agreed to partner with BAF and SWOFON to implement the ActionAid SPAC project as a step to achieve sustainable agricultural development, for Food security and jobs creation.
The managing director added that the project could also improve soil fertility, and the production of healthy and Nutritious food crops adding that, 183 Agroecological model farms were established across the nine local governments.
According to him, the project will reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and increase incomes and less spending for farmers in their farming activities.
In their testimony, the beneficiary women farmers revealed that the techniques were very effective and sustainable for rural farmers.
However, the women farmers solicited more support and intervention as agroecology needed to be gradually adopted with some cost demands before the maturing stage.
The participants were selected from nine local government areas of the state and they are expected to step down the training to other farmers in their communities.
