Sasakawa Africa promotes climate-smart agriculture across five states

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, with support from The Nippon Foundation (TNF), has hosted a series of Green Mega and Mini Field Days across five states, namely, Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano and Nasarawa, to promote climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices that enhance productivity, soil health, and farmers’ resilience to climate change.

According to a statement by the Association, the field events, held at SAA’s demonstration sites, showcased innovative practices that integrate maize and soybean strip cropping, conservation agriculture, and integrated soil fertility management.

Farmers also witnessed the benefits of biochar application, proper plant spacing, mulching, and the use of improved seed varieties, including Provitamin A maize and high-yielding soybean.

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Speaking at the Mid-Season Review Meeting held at the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture in Makurdi, Godwin Atser, SAA Country Director, said the activities are vital tools for technology demonstration and farmer learning.

“Field days are powerful platforms that catalyze knowledge of SAA’s approaches across the agricultural value chain.

“They create opportunities for interaction with farmers and allow us to scale improved practices that drive productivity and resilience”, he said.

Atser urged SAA field officers to remain committed to delivering new technologies that enhance sustainable farming outcomes in the country.

In Gombe State, the Green Mega Field Day drew participation from farmers, partners, and government officials, including representatives of the State Ministry of Agriculture, traditional and religious leaders, and development organizations.

Barnabas Malle, Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, represented by Ibrahim Sajo, commended SAA’s interventions, describing them as transformative for rural communities.

“SAA’s interventions have brought visible progress to our communities,” he said. “Through this collaboration, we are raising a generation of farmers who understand sustainable intensification and climate-smart agriculture — key to ensuring food security and economic prosperity in Gombe State.”

One of the highlights of the events was a testimonial from Gloria Umaru Dangombe, a female farmer and host of one of the demonstration plots. She expressed delight at the impact of the new technologies on her farm.

“The Provitamin A maize we planted has performed beyond our expectations,” she said. “The mulching technique helped our soil retain more water, and the crops have grown much better. We are seeing real change in our fields and have more confidence in facing long dry spells.”

Across the participating States, the events featured interactive sessions, cultural displays, and field tours that encouraged peer learning and highlighted the success of participatory agricultural extension methods.

Each of the five states — Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa — hosted one Mega Field Day, while Nasarawa held two. Several Mini Field Days were also conducted at the community level — ten in Gombe, twelve in Nasarawa, five each in Benue and Kano, and ten in Jigawa — to deepen grassroots engagement and ensure wider adoption of SAA-promoted technologies.

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Through support from The Nippon Foundation, SAA continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda by promoting regenerative and market-oriented agriculture that delivers both economic and environmental benefits.

“The Green Mega and Mini Field Days are part of our broader effort to build healthier soils, boost productivity, and secure the livelihoods of smallholder farmers,” Dr. Atser added.

The events concluded with renewed commitments from farmers and stakeholders to expand the adoption of climate-smart technologies for a more sustainable agricultural future in Nigeria.