Participants at a three-day training on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for dryland systems have described the capacity-building programme as a major catalyst for improving food security and economic advancement.
The training was organised by the Adolescent Health Information Projects (AHIP) in collaboration with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University Kano (BUK), and funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Resilient Opportunities for Outreach, Trade and Sustainability (ROOTS) project.
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A smallholder farmer from Bunkure, and member of the women rice processing and Fadama farmers group, Maimuna Idris Musa, said the training exposed her to modern techniques in vegetable farming, as well as maize, rice, and sorghum production, including home gardening.
She explained that home gardening would significantly reduce household expenses, as vegetables grown could be used for domestic consumption and income generation.
Maimuna added that the knowledge gained would help improve farming practices to global standards, pledging to step down the training to at least 50 other smallholder farmers.
“Words are not enough to describe how I feel. Thank you AHIP and CDA. The income realised from climate-smart agriculture will help us pay school fees and support our families. May God bless you,” she said.
Another participant, Rahama Abdullahi from the Women Rice Fadama group in Bunkure, said she was trained on innovative farming methods, including growing tuber crops using tyres.
She noted that crops such as yam and potatoes can be cultivated using one or two tyres depending on water availability, describing the training as an eye-opener for smallholder farmers.
“Words cannot express how I feel today. This initiative will improve our livelihoods. Thank you AHIP, may Allah continue to bless you,” she added.
In a presentation titled “Climate-Smart Practices for Selected Vegetable Crops Production,” a Professor of Agronomy at CDA, Aminu Alhassan Fagge, said participants were trained on the effects of climate change, as well as modern methodologies and technical approaches to improve crop and livestock productivity.
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He added that the Centre would continue to provide follow-up support and guidance to the farmers.
Also presenting a paper titled “Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture for Smallholder Women and Youth in Northern Nigeria,” the Research and Grants Manager at CDA, Dr Hakim Ajeigbe, explained that farmers can utilise sacks and other local materials to grow crops such as tomatoes, pepper, onions, potatoes, and yam within limited spaces.
He said such practices enable year-round production and can be complemented with small-scale livestock and fish farming to boost household income.
“A woman can rear one or two goats or even a cow and make good profit. Instead of buying gold, invest in farming inputs like water storage tanks. With time, you can grow your income and still buy gold after achieving financial stability,” he advised.
He further stressed the importance of planting fruit trees, noting that they provide essential vitamins, generate income, and help mitigate climate change.
“The reason we are experiencing climate change is largely due to deforestation without replacement,” he said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director of AHIP, Dr Mairo V. Bello, said the training targeted women farmers, including those at risk of irregular migration.
She explained that returnees and vulnerable women were selected to empower them with sustainable livelihoods and reduce the temptation to migrate.
Dr Bello noted that participants were drawn from communities with a high concentration of women engaged in vegetable and nutrition-based farming, adding that low yields and climate challenges have contributed to migration pressures.
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“With this CSA training, participants will learn how to better manage their environment, crops, and farm outputs to achieve higher yields,” she said.
She added that the programme would also include financial literacy training and support in accessing seed grants and financial inclusion opportunities through formal banking systems.