Nasarawa women farmers record bumper harvest

Smallholder women farmers in Nasarawa State have recorded bumper harvest during the 2026 farming season in the state following the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and biofortified crop varieties introduced by the Sasakawa Africa Association, Nigeria.

Arewa PUNCH gathered that Sasakawa Africa Association in partnership with The Nippon Foundation in Japan, aims to help improve the food, nutrition, and income security of Africa’s smallholder farmers through its “co-innovation” concept: Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Packaging, and Knowledge Transfer and Adoption.

The women farmers spoke to journalists on Friday, shortly after a two-day media field days organised by SAA in the Obi and Doma Local Government Areas of the state.

They explained that the interventions by the Non-Governmental Organisation had exposed them to improved farming techniques, including appropriate plant spacing, improved seed varieties, biochar and compost application, proper fertiliser use and better field management.

The Chairperson of Madagba Watta Community Women Farmers’ Group in Doma LGA, Felicia Alaku, who spoke on behalf of the women, said among other numerous initiatives, SAA had introduced them to orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, which they had not previously cultivated.

Alaku further disclosed that the farmers were trained on proper ridging and plant spacing, field management, fertiliser application, storage and preservation of planting materials, as well as different ways of preparing the OFSP.

She said the farmers were also educated on the crop’s Vitamin A content and health benefits, particularly for children.

According to her, the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes performed better than the traditional varieties cultivated by the farmers and had attracted interest from other farmers, with some already collecting vines from the group to establish the crop on their farms.

Also speaking, Adama Rabiu, a beneficiary from Angwan Hamidu community in Obi LGA, said the intervention had also improved the quality and diversity of food available to her household.

“Since Sasakawa arrived, the food we eat has improved. We now cultivate fluted pumpkins around our living compounds to supplement our regular meals, which has made a major difference in our daily lives,” she said.

• 88,000 Nasarawa women used SFH family planning services
• Tinubu orders release of funds to regional commissions
• 500,000 hectares of farmland recovered from bandits in Kaduna — Commissioner

Similaly, Sarah Joseph, a beneficiary from Angwan Iliya community in Obi LGA, said the training had equipped farmers with improved techniques for cultivating Pro-Vitamin A biofortified maize, SAMMAZ 52, and improved soybeans.

She said the practices had produced healthier crops and raised expectations of higher yields, adding that farmers could achieve higher productivity on smaller plots of land.

In his remarks, the Country Director of SAA, Dr. Godwin Atser, said the organisation served as a link between agricultural research institutes and smallholder farmers facing climate-related challenges.

Atser, represented by the Technical Coordinator, Climate Resilience and Agrifood System, Nathaniel Otene, pointed out that SAA focused on improving productivity and incomes by introducing drought-tolerant, early-maturing, high-yielding and pest- and disease-resistant crop varieties.

He explained that the biofortified maize, soybean and sweet potato varieties promoted by the organisation were products of conventional plant breeding and not Genetically Modified Organisms.

Earlier in an interview, the Communications Officer of SAA, Nigeria, Moses Nongoatse noted that in response to soil degradation, damaging impact of climate change, and worsening food insecurity, SAA aims to contribute to the creation of a resilient and sustainable food system in Africa by placing regenerative agriculture at the center of its strategy.

He stressed that “the organisation, in partnership with The Nippon Foundation in Japan and the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the State Agricultural Development Programme, had implemented a multi-faceted agricultural development programme in seven local government areas across the state.”

He maintained that “More than 18,900 farmers have been mobilised and sensitised, while 15,975 received step-down training on improved agricultural practices, value-chain development and market-oriented farming.

“SAA established 60 community demonstration plots, providing practical learning opportunities for about 600 farmers and reaching more than 2,000 others through wider outreach,” he emphasised.