Sasakawa Africa Association Conducted Pre-Season ToT in Nigeria
In a collaborative effort to strengthen food security across Nigeria, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has conducted its 2024 pre-season training program for extension agents. This initiative equipped 90 frontline agents from Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Benue, and Kwara states with the necessary expertise to empower local farmers during the upcoming planting season
New Cassava Seed Initiative Successfully Takes Off in Nigeria’s North Central Region
A project by SAA and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to produce improved cassava seed for farmers in Nigeria’s North Central region is yielding promising results. The improved varieties yield an average of more than twice the national average of 8 tons per hectare and are resistant to cassava mosaic virus. In the initial phase, starting 2023, 13 cooperatives were involved in the production of cassava seed on 55 hectares of land, with plans for further expansion in 2024
Boosting Climate-Smart Rice Production in Nasarawa
To reduce the usage of charcoal during the parboiling stage of rice processing, and save forests from destruction, SAA and the Nasarawa State government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration supported by the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), aims to revitalize rice cooperatives; and promote the decarbonization of rice production and processing
Aerated Onion Storage System Saving Traders from Losses
Realizing that onion traders in Kano state lose up to 50% of their produce due to poor storage, SAA, through the Kano State Agro- Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), introduced the Aerated Onion Storage Technology (AOST) in 2022 to replace the less-effective traditional onion storage systems
Extension Agents Trained on Quality Assurance
SAA’s Capacity-building unit teamed up with the Usman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto State and Bayero University in Kano State to launch a short-term certificate course focused on the production of high-quality food products. The course, titled Safe Production: Safe Consumption, sought to counter the inconsistent agricultural practices that affect the marketability of agricultural products
SAA Trains Extension Agents on Post-Harvest Management and Grain Quality Enhancement
Funded by The Nippon Foundation, SAA organized a program to train 110 extension agents from four states (Gombe, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Kano) on post-harvest loss reduction and the improvement of grain quality
Women Farmers in Kano Join Forces to Start Strong Trading Group
Eager to escape harsh economic realities, 10 women in the Barkun region of Nigeria’s Kano State teamed up in 2021 to form an association for collective trading, Barkum Women Rice Processors. This move was initiated after training under the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), implemented by SAA, and which taught the women on value addition, record-keeping, group dynamics, market access, and financial management, among other skills
Farmers in Nasarawa State Harness Biochar and Bokashi to Boost Yields and Incomes
In the Nasarawa State of Nigeria’s North Central region, members of two farmer groups, Dacewa MPCS Shabu and the Apashi-Woza Multipurpose Cooperative groups, are on a journey to improve their yields and income through the production and use of bokashi and biochar
SAA Stands Out During Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) played a pivotal role in the 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW2023) held in Abuja, Nigeria, from November 5 to 11, 2023. During the event, SAA advocated for the crucial role of extension and advisory services (AEAS) in Africa’s agricultural transformation
Integrated Soil Fertility (ISFM) helped Nigerian Farmer Slashes Labor Costs while and Boosting Yield
Abdulmumini Adamu has significantly reduced his labor costs by 85%, from NGN35,000 (USD46) to NGN5000 (USD7), since adopting minimum tillage on his quarter-hectare maize farm in the Tasha Garabi region of Nigeria’s Kano State
