By Our Correspondent

Propcom+ has begun a three-day training for journalists from various media houses in Nigeria to build their capabilities on reporting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA).

The training which is being held in Adamawa State is aimed at increasing public understanding of the impact of climate change on agriculture as well as educating them about strategies for adapting to climate change, mitigating its effects, and ensuring food security.

Dr. Adiya Ode, Country Representative and Political Director for Propcom+, while delivering her opening remarks during the media training said the exercise was to equip the journalists with storytelling techniques to create impactful campaigns and raise awareness about climate resilience and food security.

Ode said that the initiative was part of Propcom+ program aimed at empowering smallholder farmers, building resilience, increasing productivity and boosting farmers’ income in the face of climate change.

She described journalists as partners in Propcom+’s strategy to stimulate action, inform the government, and influence public policy related to climate-smart agriculture.

During his presentation, Mr Adam Alqali, one of the facilitators, urged participants to champion CSA towards tackling impact of climate change on agriculture.

Alqali said that the training would equip participating journalists with storytelling techniques to raise awareness about CSA.

He said that the knowledge-sharing event would ensure that information about practical CSA solutions was disseminated more effectively to the public and to farmers in vulnerable communities.

He urged the journalists to adopt solution-driven approach to highlighting issues of CSA.

Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 21 journalists from various media houses from Nigeria are participating in the training which is expected to end on Thursday with a field engagement.

Propcom+ is an eight-year (2023-2030) UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded program working to transform Nigeria’s rural and agricultural sector by supporting climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

The initiative aims to benefit people, climate, and nature by empowering over 3.79 million rural farmers—50% women—to adapt to climate change, boost productivity, and protect natural ecosystems, with the goal of improving incomes and fostering inclusive economic growth.

By Our Correspondent

The Kano State Government and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)-Nigeria have signed a $12.3 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish mechanisation centres across the state and provide farmers access to improved agricultural equipment and reduce the drudgery associated with agriculture in the state.
The agreement, financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF), marks the beginning of the second phase of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), which will run from 01 July 2025 to 31 December 2025. The first phase of this project has over the past five years, worked to enhance food security, improve rural livelihoods, and create employment opportunities in the northwestern state.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, SAA Nigeria Country Director, Dr Godwin Atser, said the intervention marks a significant step towards agricultural transformation and sustaining the gains already recorded under the KSADP. He also described the deal as a critical extension of SAA’s ongoing work in Kano State.
“Sasakawa has been a consistent partner to Kano State, supporting smallholder farmers and processors to improve productivity and livelihoods,” he said. “The government’s renewed emphasis on mechanisation necessitated this latest initiative, which builds on the gains of KSADP. Importantly, it will reduce the drudgery of farm labour and ensure sustainability.”
SAA-Nigeria, a Japan-headquartered agricultural development NGO, has operated in Kano for more than three decades and has been deeply involved in supporting agriculture in the state. Through the Cereal Crop Component of the KSADP alone, SAA has reached over 450,000 farmers with an improved package of practices and market-driven technologies across the 44 local government areas of the state, thereby increasing agricultural productivity as well as the incomes of farmers.
According to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud. “While much has been achieved under the KSADP, the state government is intensifying its drive towards mechanisation. This includes the establishment of farm service centres, the distribution of machinery, and large-scale technology dissemination through demonstration plots, seed multiplication, and farmer training.”
SAA Project Coordinator of the KSADP, Abdulrasheed Kofarmata, revealed that the funds will be used to procure more than 9000 pieces of heavy and light agricultural equipment and accessories which will aid agricultural activities as it relates to land preparation, planting, crop protection, harvesting and processing.
“I think better days are here for individual and farmer groups in Kano state because this arrangement is going to fund the procurement of tractors and implements, power tillers and implements, combine harvesters, planters, sprayers, rice mills, threshers, solar-powered irrigation systems and a host of others. In addition, it will fund the establishment of 22 medium-scale rice enterprises, 10 artificially aerated onion storage technology facilities, and the installation of 40 maize/cereal flour processing enterprises.”

By Our Correspondent

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has officially flagged off the sales of fertiliser for the 2025 wet farming season, as part of ongoing efforts to boost agricultural productivity and support farmers across the state.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Governor Inuwa Yahaya revealed that the state government had procured a total of 10,000 tonnes of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser at the cost of ₦44,000 per bag, but will be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of ₦27,000 per bag. This, he said, is aimed at easing the financial burden on farmers and ensuring access to essential agricultural inputs.

The Governor stressed that timely access to fertiliser is crucial for increasing crop yields, strengthening food security, and driving economic growth in the state.

He directed the State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, in collaboration with security agencies, to strictly monitor the sales and distribution process in order to prevent diversion and ensure the fertilisers reach the intended grassroots beneficiaries.

Governor Inuwa also appealed to farmers to respect designated grazing reserves and cattle routes. He advised herders to avoid grazing on farmlands before harvest, in order to prevent conflicts and safeguard crops.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Barnabas Malle, commended Governor Yahaya for his agricultural development strides, particularly the establishment of the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone. According to him, the zone hosts strategic facilities including an ultra-modern abattoir, an international livestock market, an international grains market, and an inland dry port, among others.

Commissioner Malle also appealed to local government chairmen and stakeholders to cooperate with ministry officials to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the fertiliser distribution exercise.

In his remarks, the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Absalom Akwaras Lansibol, acknowledged the pivotal role of the Gombe State Government in ensuring timely and affordable access to quality farm inputs. He praised the administration’s sustained commitment to agricultural development, noting its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Agricultural Transformation Initiative.