The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, with support from The Nippon Foundation (TNF), has successfully hosted a series of Green Mega and Mini Field Days across five intervention states — Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa — to promote climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices aimed at boosting productivity and resilience among smallholder farmers.
Over 3,000 farmers participated in the field demonstrations, witnessing firsthand the impact of innovative technologies that integrate maize and soybean strip cropping with conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, and biochar application. The showcased practices also included proper plant spacing, mulching, and the use of improved crop varieties such as Provitamin A maize and high-yielding soybean.
The interventions fall under SAA’s thematic areas of Regenerative Agriculture, Market-Oriented Agriculture, and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, designed to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and strengthen resilience to climate change and malnutrition.
Speaking during the Mid-Season Review Meeting held at the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture in Makurdi, SAA Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, described the field days as “powerful platforms that catalyze knowledge across the agricultural value chain.” He urged SAA field staff to remain committed to promoting new technologies that improve farmers’ productivity and resilience.
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In Gombe State, the event attracted a large turnout of farmers, government officials, and development partners. Representing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle, the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Ibrahim Sajo, commended SAA for its continued support in transforming local agriculture.
“SAA’s interventions have brought visible progress to our communities,” he said. “We are raising a generation of farmers who understand sustainable intensification and climate-smart agriculture — vital for food security and economic prosperity in Gombe State.”
A testimonial from Mrs. Gloria Umaru Dangombe, a female farmer and host of one of the demonstration plots, highlighted the tangible benefits of the program. “The Provitamin A maize we planted has performed beyond expectations,” she said. “The mulching technique helped our soil retain more water, and the crops are healthier. We are seeing real change and are better prepared for dry spells.”
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Mr. Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, SAA’s Technical Coordinator for Market-Oriented Agriculture, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to empowering farmers through innovation and practical knowledge. He emphasized that SAA’s focus on regenerative and market-oriented agriculture seeks to improve not only yields but also incomes and climate resilience.
The Green Mega and Mini Field Days followed a successful mid-season review meeting involving 117 field staff, including state and zonal coordinators, extension agents, and community facilitators. The meeting provided a platform for reflection and feedback on promoted technologies to enhance field-level impact.
Each of the five states — Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and Nasarawa — hosted one Mega Field Day, while Nasarawa held two. Additional Mini Field Days are being conducted across communities: ten in Gombe, twelve in Nasarawa, five each in Benue and Kano, and ten in Jigawa, extending the learning experience to grassroots farmers.
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The events featured interactive sessions, cultural displays, and field tours, reinforcing peer-to-peer learning and SAA’s participatory approach to agricultural extension.
Through continued support from The Nippon Foundation, SAA remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural transformation by promoting regenerative and climate-smart practices that build healthier soils, boost productivity, and secure livelihoods for smallholder farmers.