Birnin-Kudu (Jigawa), Nov. 16, 2025
Centre for Dryland Agriculture Bayero University Kano in collaboration with Soil values Program, have trained Jigawa farmers on compost production and utilization to revive soil fertility.
Speaking on Sunday during the farmers’ field day program, Dr Bassam Abdurrahman of the Centre, said the aim is to restore the value of the soil which was devalued with the prolonged application of inorganic fertilizer.
According to him, “We are all aware that inorganic fertiliser is generated using chemicals and some of those chemicals are harmful and destroy the soil fertility over time.
“In view of that, the centre with support from the Soil Values Program, trained some Lead farmers in Dutse, Jahun, Buji, Kafin Hausa, Birnin-Kudu and Kiyawa local governments, on compost production.
“The program utilised demnonstration farms to test the effectiveness of the compost for farmers to witness how the soil’s lost nutrients are restored, after using the assorted fertilizer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mu’azu Salisu a staff from the Centre and a trainer for the compost production, said they have sampled a farm using four various fertilizer applications for farmers to see the high impact of compost.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director of the Centre on Reaseach and Innovation, Dr. Mustapha Bello, explained the importance of the farmer’s field day.
He said that it was conducted to showcase the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) from scratch to the farm.
“We have set up a demonstration farm where other forms of fertilisers were used on some section of the farm and the compost was also applied on another section.
“The purpose is for the farmers to witness the difference and the development of crops planted at the same time using variety of fertilizers,” Bello said.
Muhammad Tukur, a young peifeasional with the Soil Value program while speaking at the event, explained the concept of the Soil Value program, said the program targets at training farmers in soil fertility management.
Some of the trained farmers expressed delight over their new skills and pledged to advance it for better productivity.
One of them, Bashir Bello from Warwade community in Dutse, said he will venture into large production of compost after seeing its effect.
Ward head of the community, Mr Ahmadu Maiunguwa, commended the centre for choosing their community for the demonstration and urged farmers to uphold the practise.
Soil Values Program is a €100 million 10-year program, funded by the Directorate for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
It is being implemented in Northern Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to improve soil fertility, decrease yield gaps and increase the resilience to climate shocks of 1.5 million smallholder farmers and restoration of 2 million Ha of degraded lands.
In Northern Nigeria, over a 10-year period, the program aims to reach 600,000 Small Holder Farmers, including women and youths to restore 800,000 Ha of degraded lands.
The program is implemented by a consortium, led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and comprising of SNV and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, with support from knowledge partners namely IITA, AGRA, ICRAF, IWMI and ISRIC.
Aisha Ahmed ✍ from Dutse.
