The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, with funding support from The Nippon Foundation (TNF), has commenced plans to promote climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices designed to boost productivity, improve soil health, and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change.
The Association organized a series of Green Mega and Mini Field Days across five states: Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa.
In a statement, the Association explained that the field events, conducted at SAA demonstration sites, featured innovative techniques such as maize-soybean strip cropping, conservation agriculture, and integrated soil fertility management.
Participants were also introduced to the advantages of using biochar, maintaining proper plant spacing, applying mulching, and adopting improved crop varieties, including Provitamin A maize and high-yield soybean.
During the Mid-Season Review Meeting held at the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture in Makurdi, SAA Country Director, Godwin Atser, emphasized that the field activities serve as essential platforms for demonstrating new technologies and facilitating farmer education.
He noted that field days are highly effective in spreading awareness of SAA’s agricultural approaches across the value chain, providing avenues for direct engagement with farmers, and enabling the wider adoption of improved practices that enhance productivity and resilience.
Atser encouraged SAA field officers to stay dedicated to promoting innovative technologies that support sustainable agricultural development nationwide.
In Gombe State, the Green Mega Field Day brought together farmers, partners, and key stakeholders, including officials from the State Ministry of Agriculture, as well as traditional and religious leaders and representatives of development organizations.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Barnabas Malle, represented by Ibrahim Sajo, praised SAA’s initiatives, describing them as transformative efforts that positively impact rural communities.
His words: “SAA’s initiatives have brought noticeable progress to our communities.
“Through this partnership, we are nurturing a new generation of farmers who embrace sustainable intensification and climate-smart agriculture, essential for achieving food security and economic growth in Gombe State.”
A major highlight of the event was the testimony of Gloria Umaru Dangombe, a female farmer and host of one of the demonstration plots, who shared her satisfaction with the positive results from the introduced technologies.
“The Provitamin A maize we cultivated exceeded our expectations.
“By using the mulching technique, our soil retained more moisture, leading to healthier crop growth. We are witnessing real improvements in our fields and feel more prepared to withstand prolonged dry periods,” he said.
In all participating states, the events included interactive discussions, cultural performances, and field tours that encouraged farmer-to-farmer learning and showcased the effectiveness of participatory agricultural extension practices.
Each of the five states: Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa, hosted one Mega Field Day, with Nasarawa holding two.
Additionally, several Mini Field Days were organized at the community level to strengthen local participation and promote broader adoption of SAA’s technologies, ten in Gombe, twelve in Nasarawa, five each in Benue and Kano, and ten in Jigawa.
With continued support from The Nippon Foundation, SAA remains a key driver of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation by advancing regenerative, market-oriented farming systems that deliver both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
“The Green Mega and Mini Field Days form an integral part of our wider mission to improve soil health, increase productivity, and strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers,” Dr. Atser stated.
The events wrapped up with farmers and stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to scaling up the use of climate-smart technologies aimed at fostering a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future in Nigeria.
