No fewer than 50,000 smallholder farmers in Kano and Kaduna states have been trained in eco-efficient vegetable production in the last four years.
The beneficiaries were trained under a project founded by the Embassy of the Netherlands and conducted by HortiNigeria to enhance vegetable production.
Speaking to journalists at the commencement of a two-week Horticultural week in Kano, the team leader, Aliyu Abdullahi, also the manager of the learning site at Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, said that the project, which started in 2021, is due to finish in 2025 if there is no extension.
“We started in 2021, and it will last until 2025. So far, we have trained approximately 50,000 farmers in Kano and Kaduna states.
“We trained them on eco-efficient vegetable production, ranging from high breed seed, healthy seedling production, mulching, and various other things that have to do with climate smart agriculture, specifically vegetable production.
“Today is our third year, and for this rainy season, we have different techniques and varieties of tests here at Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education Kano.
“We call farmers from different local governments in Kano, and the program will last approximately two weeks. Each day, different farmers come from other local governments.
“Not only the farmers, but we have agro dealers we’ve trained, as well as other stakeholders, the institutions, students, and other stakeholders.
“The essence is to promote heavy vegetable production using eco-efficient. Here, we showcase different techniques and varieties.
“These include healthy seedling production using the nursery, the seedling production using local media, and the preservation system.
“The project will end in 2025 if there is no extension. If there is an extension, it will last beyond 2025,” he stated.
The event also allowed farmers to see green manuring research and visit processors in HortiNigeria Clusters.
It will enable farmers to hear programme actors share stories of change during the event, which will last approximately two weeks.
More so, HortiNigeria announced its intention to work with telecom companies like 9mobile telecommunications company to further scale up information on improved farming technology to other farmers who were not primary benefactors of the programme’s initiative.
HortiNigeria is a 5-year project funded by the Dutch government and implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).
