The Federal Government, through the Kano State Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has empowered no fewer than 9,870 rice farmers across Kano State with climate-resilient inputs and modern rice-growing technologies.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the SAPZ Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Rabi Mustapha, and reinforced by the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Aminu Iliyasu, during the 2025 Farmers Field Day held at the Chiromawa Garin Babba Cluster in Garun Malam Local Government Area.
Iliyasu said the initiative, which targeted farmers in Garun Malam, Gezawa, Bichi, and Bagwai LGAs, was designed to expose smallholder farmers to science-based, practical, and climate-smart solutions that could immediately enhance yields, strengthen food security, and improve rural livelihoods.
He described the field day as “a celebration of knowledge, innovation, and the resilience of smallholder farmers who remain central to Nigeria’s food system.”
According to him, the SAPZ programme in Kano is strategically positioned to expand farmers’ access to improved technologies, strengthen extension services, reduce post-harvest losses, and create reliable market opportunities for rural communities.
“These innovations are not theoretical. They are practical solutions that farmers can adopt immediately to raise productivity and increase income,” he said, praising the support of local authorities in facilitating the intervention.
Mustapha explained that the distribution covered a full set of essential farm inputs such as FARO 44 improved rice seeds, Urea and NPK fertilizers, and insecticides for the 2025 wet season. She noted that farmers also received hands-on training on key agronomic practices, including soil selection, seed dressing, nursery establishment, land preparation, and timely transplanting at correct spacing intervals.
She added that farmers were also trained on fertilizer application, weed control, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and water management techniques—practices that are critical for boosting rice yields in a changing climate.
Post-harvest modules were also included, covering harvesting at optimal maturity, proper drying to safe moisture levels, and fumigation with phostoxin to prevent storage losses, thereby ensuring grain quality and market value.
Two beneficiaries shared success stories that highlighted the impact of the programme.
Salamatu Ali said the support had equipped farmers with the resilience needed to withstand climate-related challenges while increasing productivity and household income.
Another farmer, Huwaila Ibrahim, said the intervention transformed her entire approach to rice cultivation.
“Before, we planted without checking whether the land was suitable. Now, we first assess the soil to ensure it matches the seed variety. This season, we cultivated FARO 44,” she said.
Ibrahim revealed that her yield had doubled—from 20–25 bags per acre to about 40 bags—after applying the new technologies introduced through the programme.
The SAPZ initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader drive to modernise agriculture, scale up climate resilience, and reduce food insecurity by empowering smallholder farmers with the tools and knowledge needed to compete in a modern agricultural economy.