The System of Rice Intensification (SRI-2030), in collaboration with Propcom Plus, has trained rice farmers in Kano State on modern machine transplanting methods aimed at enhancing productivity and reducing labour costs.
The training and demonstration took place in Katarkawa community, Warawa Local Government Area, with Abdul-Rahman Danbaba, Consultant and Master Trainer of SRI-2030 Nigeria, leading the sessions. He explained that the initiative seeks to scale up SRI practices across Nigeria through partnerships with rice millers and stakeholders.
Farmers were provided with reference materials in Hausa language to facilitate understanding and adoption of improved techniques. Danbaba noted that the training equips farmers with practical skills in modern rice production and enables them to become service providers in their communities.
However, he lamented that access to transplanting machines remains a major challenge due to high costs.
“Many farmers have been trained but cannot afford the equipment. We are calling on development partners to support them with machines,” he said.
The initiative also extends to Adamawa State, where SRI-2030 and Propcom Plus are working with FalGates Rice in Ribadu community, supporting 600 farmers with inputs such as NPK and urea fertilizers, as well as solar irrigation pumps for the 2026 dry season. Farmers will repay in kind at the end of the season and sell extra paddy to the company.
In Kano and Jigawa States, SRI-2030 partners with Fursa Rice, supporting 298 farmers cultivating 330.5 hectares of farmland.
During the demonstration, field officer Abubakar Abdulrahman highlighted the benefits of mechanical transplanting. “Manual transplanting previously required 20 people for two days to cover one hectare.
With the machine, 2–3 people can complete the work in three hours,” he said. He also explained that the method uses a mat nursery prepared with sandy soil, rice bran, and organic manure, rather than the traditional bare-field nursery.
Machine transplanting costs about ₦50,000 per hectare, compared to ₦80,000–₦100,000 for manual labour, making it more cost-effective.
Rice farmer Mrs Zainab Bashari, a widow and mother of 10, said the innovation has significantly reduced the burden of manual transplanting. “Before now, we spent 2–3 days per hectare and paid ₦80,000–₦100,000 for labour. With the machine, the work is faster, cheaper, and less stressful. We are very happy with this development,” she said.
Bashari also highlighted that improved techniques have increased yields, with some farmers harvesting up to 100 bags per hectare in a good season. She appealed to government and development partners to support farmers with fertilizers, irrigation pumps, and transplanting machines to expand farming activities.
SRI-2030 has previously trained 22 extension workers in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in January 2024 on sustainable rice farming and climate change mitigation.
Extension workers were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Bauchi, and Adamawa states to strengthen farmers’ capacity and promote environmentally friendly rice production that increases yield and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The training attracted stakeholders supporting SRI promotion in Nigeria, including representatives of the RICOWAS Project.
NAN