The UKAid in collaboration with one of Nigeria’s leading a leading commodity trading firm, Silvex International Limited has trained of Rice farmers in Jigawa state.
The farmers received climate-smart training on system of rice intensification (SRI), a new approach to rice production that increases crop productivity and reduces methane emissions by at least 22 per cent to a maximum of 64 per cent.
The training was part of a tripartite partnership between the Foreign and Common Wealth Development Office (FCDO) of the British government through its intervention on investment promotion under the LINKS Project, the Jigawa state government and a leading commodity trading firm Silvex International Limited.
The trainer, an agribusiness consultant and CEO of a training firm, Green Sahel Agric Ventures, Mr Muhammad Adamu revealed that “the system of rice intensification (SRI) uses a cultivation system of alternate wetting and drying that creates aerobic soil conditions that reduce the production of methane. It uses less seeds and less water, whilst increasing yields.
“As such it can increase farmer incomes whilst reducing Green House Gases (GHG) emissions. Despite the benefits of SRI having been demonstrated in over 60 countries, it has not been demonstrated at any scale in Northern Nigeria. It also utilises different techniques to the traditional norms and widespread adoption in Nigeria will require farmers to be trained in these new techniques and be convinced of the benefits,” he reiterated
The two-day training of trainers for the lead farmers and field coordinators, is expected to be stepped down to at least 50 farmers in each cluster of 27 communities across nine local government areas in both Kano and Jigawa to cover at least 12, 150 farmers in the two states.
The Managing Director of Silvex International Limited, Abubakar Karfi assured the commitment of the company in supporting farmers to move towards a sustainable means of commodity production in Nigeria.
“This training and field visits indicated the commencement of the System of Rice (SRI) project anchored by the FCDO LINKS project in Kano and Jigawa States where Silvex International Limited serves as a major implementing partner,” he stressed.
At a side meeting shortly after the training, Silvex and the delegation of the British FCDO/UKAID, which include Mr Chris Pycroft, the Director of Development; Mrs Gail Warrender, Senior Economic Team Leader and other senior officials of the FCDO Nigeria, agreed to focus on innovation, investment and infrastructure (III) development in agricultural value chains in Nigeria.
Karfi assured the delegation of the company’s full commitment and more investment into the backward integration to support smallholder farmers to improve their income and livelihoods through providing steady access to market, especially for commodities produced in an eco-friendly practice for employment and wealth creation.
Within the week, officials of the British government paid courtesy visit to Jigawa state governor, Muhammad Badaru where both parties renewed their commitments to promoting agribusiness and investments.
Also, Jigawa state has in recent times intensified efforts in attracting investors within and outside the country.
