Farmers Praise Sasakawa Agricultural Interventions
Beneficiaries of agricultural interventions by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Nasarawa State have said they have seen significant improvements in their farming practices and increased yields since the association began working with them.
The farmers spoke during a two-day Media Field Day held in Obi and Lafia Local Government Areas.
The Media Field Day, which drew journalists from different media outfits, highlighted Sasakawa Africa Association’s interventions in climate-resilient agriculture, nutrition-sensitive farming, seed production, and inclusive market and agribusiness development.
Beneficiaries of these interventions, who are involved in maize, soya bean and sweet potato farming, said the training and support they received from Sasakawa Africa Association had changed their approach to farming and improved their livelihoods.
During a visit to a maize and soya bean demonstration farm in Obi and Angwar Hamidu in Lafia, the Technical Coordinator, Climate-Resilient and Agri-Food Systems at Sasakawa Africa Association, Nathaniel Otene, and the Programme Officer for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, Dr Moshood Suleiman, said the maize variety is bio-fortified with pro-vitamin A, which is essential for breastfeeding mothers and children under five.
At Ayinewoza Multipurpose Cooperative Farm in Obi, the Programme Officer, Inclusive Market and Agribusiness Development at SAA, Jonathan Tagnan Yossah, said the farm was structured to produce only seeds for farmers and expressed satisfaction with the way farmers are adopting the best agronomic practices.
Also speaking, the Communication Officer of SAA, Moses Nangotse, disclosed that more than 18,000 farmers in the state have so far benefited from the association’s interventions, saying the Media Field Day was organised to provide an opportunity for journalists to see how SAA has changed the narrative in the agricultural value chain.
Other places visited include a sweet potato farm at Madagba Watta, Lafia; a maize and soya bean farm at Ungwan Iliya, Sabon Gari Gidan Hausa, Obi Local Government Area; and the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia.
