Farmers in Kano and Jigawa Trained to Boost Cowpea Yields Through Soil Restoration

Soil Values and the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) of Bayero University Kano have trained farmers in Kano and Jigawa states on techniques to restore soil fertility and increase cowpea production.

The organisations hosted a field day on Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) to equip smallholder farmers with practical methods for rejuvenating degraded soils. Participants observed different soil management techniques firsthand in Takai, Kano State, across four demonstration plots on the farm of Ahmad Isa Falali, showcasing traditional practices, inorganic fertilisers, organic fertilisers, and the ISFM approach.

Falali said, “This training has changed the way I produce cowpea. Learning to make compost, recycle residues, and adjust nutrient levels has turned the ISFM plot into an ‘open-air classroom’ for me.”

Speaking on behalf of CDA’s Director of Research, Dr Bassam Abdulrahman described the Field Day as part of the Soil Values project, a ten-year initiative funded by the Government of the Netherlands. The project aims to enhance land use in Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi through hands-on training for farmers.

Woman farmer Rayya Abdullahi said the training strengthened her confidence in soil management. “I now have the confidence to manage soil properly and plan to share this knowledge with other women in my group,” she noted.

Implemented by partners including the International Fertiliser Development Centre, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, and Wageningen University & Research, along with scientific collaborators like IITA, AGRA, and ICRAF, the programme seeks to reduce yield gaps, improve soil fertility, and promote sustainable farming practices.

Operating in Sahelian regions challenged by drought, desertification, and climate change, Soil Values has a €100 million budget aimed at restoring two million hectares of degraded land across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northern Nigeria. In Nigeria alone, 800,000 hectares are targeted for restoration, directly benefiting 600,000 smallholder farmers, with a focus on women and youth.