RICOWAS Trains 10,000 Farmers in Climate-Resilient Rice Production

News in brief:

-Over 10,000 farmers in Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger, and Jigawa were trained in climate-smart rice farming techniques.

-The project expands SRI adoption, enhances local capacity, and strengthens community resilience against climate change.

The Regional Initiative for Climate-Smart Rice Systems in West Africa (RICOWAS) has trained more than 10,000 smallholder farmers in Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger and Jigawa States to adopt climate-resilient rice production practices.

They focus on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), alongside sustainable land and water management techniques designed to increase yields, conserve resources, and strengthen resilience to climate change.

The initiative is funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF) and implemented regionally by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) as part of a 13-country ECOWAS effort to promote sustainable agro-ecological rice systems.

National Implementation Gains Momentum

Speaking in Abuja, the project's National Coordinator, Dr Umar A. Umar, applauded the strong collaboration among government partners, technical institutions, and farmers during the first year of implementation.

He said the support will extend to building local skills in machinery fabrication, composting, and organic fertiliser production. Training manuals in both English and Hausa have already been developed and distributed to facilitate inclusive learning.

Target States and Community-Level Impact

Under the programme, interventions are currently underway in:

• Jigawa State: Auyo, Miga, Kafin Hausa, Dutse, Jahun
• Niger State: Lavun, Gbako, Lapai, Agaie, Katcha
• Nasarawa State: Doma, Obi, Nasarawa-Eggon, Lafia, Awe
• Gombe State: Yamaltu-Deba, Balanga, Akko, Kwami, Kaltungo

Dr Umar stated that both wet and dry season activities are progressing successfully through Training of Trainers (ToT) delivered by experts at the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, enabling extension agents to transfer knowledge through Farmers’ Field Schools.

Strong Results From Demonstration Farms

Farmers’ Field Days recently held in Gombe and Jigawa showcased strong adoption levels and yield improvements linked to SRI methodology.

The project has also strengthened partnerships with several institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, State Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), SRI 2030 (United Kingdom-based global SRI promoter), and the Bank of Agriculture.

Dr Umar reaffirmed the project’s mission to expand SRI adoption nationwide, boosting national rice productivity while helping vulnerable farmers adapt to worsening climate impacts.