Twenty-one agricultural extension officers from Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kano States have recently completed an intensive training on using digital Decision Support Tools (DSTs) to improve soil management and crop productivity.
DSTs are technology-driven platforms designed to optimise soil fertility practices and increase agricultural yields. The training was organised by the Center for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) at Bayero University Kano (BUK), in collaboration with the IFDC Soil Values programme.
Dr. Dahiru Wakili-Habib, a researcher and soil specialist at CDA, explained that the workshop, held in Bauchi from November 29 to 30, focused on applying digital tools at every stage of farming—from planting to harvest.
“DSTs help reduce excessive use of chemical fertilisers, minimising environmental risks such as water contamination and soil salinisation,” Wakili-Habib noted. He added that one application, which provides nutrient recommendations for rice, particularly attracted participants’ interest. The tool allows fertiliser use to be tailored to actual crop needs, avoiding uniform approaches that can be harmful.
To support wider adoption, iPads were provided to extension officers so they can replicate and share the knowledge within their communities.
Muhammad Tukur-Musa, a young professional with the IFDC Soil Values programme, highlighted that the initiative forms part of a larger effort to restore degraded lands across the Sahel. “The programme focuses on agroecology, inclusive markets, and enabling environments to strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate challenges,” he explained.
Participants expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the digital tools. Idris Ibrahim, an extension officer in Bauchi, noted that modern agriculture requires technological solutions to boost productivity, while Esther Abba from Tafawa Balewa emphasised that the tools can reduce costs for smallholder farmers and minimise post-harvest losses.
The Soil Values programme targets the Sahel region, addressing challenges such as desertification, recurrent droughts, climate change impacts, and socio-political conflicts. Its approach combines three key pillars—Agroecology, Inclusive Markets, and Enabling Environment—with five domains of action: Clustering, Integration, Linking, Dialogue, and Analysis & Learning.
With a €100 million budget, the initiative aims to restore two million hectares of degraded land across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northern Nigeria, directly benefiting 1.5 million farmers, including women and youth. In Nigeria, 800,000 hectares are expected to be rehabilitated, reaching around 600,000 smallholder producers.
The training equips extension officers with the digital skills necessary to drive sustainable soil management, helping farmers across the Sahel achieve higher yields while conserving natural resources.