The Women Environmental Programme (WEP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has trained 100 women in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State in producing organic manure and pesticides to promote climate-smart agriculture in rural communities.
The training was held on Friday under the project, “Strengthening Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods for Rural Women.”
Damaris Uja, WEP’s head of programme, said the training aimed to equip the women with knowledge of sustainable practices that benefit crops and the environment.
She said WEP organised the training under the project, funded by Irish Aid with support from the Government of Ireland.
The women were taught to make compost and pesticides from household waste and locally available materials, which they could use on their farms instead of buying synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Uja said synthetic fertilisers and pesticides could deplete soil nutrients, harm crops and reduce the shelf life of fruit and vegetables.
She said the women learned to use garlic, neem leaves, seeds and stems, black soap, ginger and scent leaves as natural pest repellents.
“The money they would use for synthetic fertilisers and pesticides can be channelled into something else,” she said. “When they spray it on their farms, the insects will no longer attack their crops. We hope that, as they learn, they will put the methods into practice and avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.”
Victoria Esa, a facilitator and executive director of the Environment and Climate Change Amelioration Initiative (ECCA), said her presentation focused on farming practices that help women sustain productivity and make informed decisions.
She said the women were also taught about the benefits of organic manure and how to apply it properly to improve crop yields.
According to Esa, organic manure is safer, helps crops grow and keeps nutrients in the soil longer than synthetic fertilisers. It also prevents soil caking and maintains soil structure and fertility, increasing crop production and helping families generate income.
Esa said the two-day training included theory and practical demonstrations, during which participants made their own compost and pesticides.
“Participants were also taught climate-smart agriculture, how to use NiMet radio updates to track rainfall, the importance of good planting stock for better yields, and how to grow crops in sacks if they lack traditional farmland,” she said.
Another facilitator, Jacinta Igwilo, chief executive officer of Jacinive Venture Ltd and an organic fertiliser and pesticide consultant, said the women learned to make pesticides using locally available materials instead of relying on synthetic products.
She said the training was intended to help the women become self-reliant by putting the methods into practice.
“We encourage them to work in clusters to make it easier to practise and ensure long-term sustainability,” she said.
Participants Mary Ushie and Agnes Amos said they had learned to use organic alternatives and locally available materials instead of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
They thanked WEP for the opportunity and pledged to use their new knowledge to improve their livelihoods and benefit their communities.
