The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), in partnership with the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, has trained 28 community seed producers and distributed more than 1,000 agricultural inputs to farmers\u2019 hubs across Bauchi State to boost food production and improve climate resilience among smallholder farmers.\n<\/p>\n
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The intervention, implemented under the Empowerment of Smallholders to Thrive and Build Climate Resilience through Regenerative Agriculture (ESTRRA) Project, seeks to improve access to quality farm inputs and reduce farmers\u2019 reliance on uncertified seeds in northern Bauchi.\n<\/p>\n
Speaking on the intervention, the Manager of the Bulkachuwa Farmers\u2019 Hub in Katagum Local Government Area, Mohammed Dahiru, said the initiative would make quality farm inputs more accessible to local farmers.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore now, farmers in this community had to travel long distances to buy quality fertilisers, chemicals and other farm inputs. With the Farmers\u2019 Hub now stocked with these products, farmers can access what they need closer to their farms and at the right time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis support will make farming easier for many farmers because they can get quality inputs without spending extra money on transportation.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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As part of the programme, FSSS organised a two-day seed production training in Azare for representatives from seven Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), with women making up more than half of the participants.\n<\/p>\n
The trainees received practical instruction on producing rice, millet, sorghum, groundnut and cowpea seeds, covering seed quality management, varietal purity, field inspection and certification requirements.\n<\/p>\n
According to the foundation, the training was informed by findings from its 2026 baseline assessment, which showed that 87 per cent of seeds used by farmers in northern Bauchi came from farmer-saved or local seed varieties, while only 12 per cent were improved or certified seeds.\n<\/p>\n
To address this gap, each participating organisation received foundation seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products to establish community seed multiplication fields.\n<\/p>\n
The seven organisations are expected to cultivate at least three hectares each, creating a minimum of 21 hectares of community seed production fields across the project communities.<\/p>\n
One of the participants, Abigail Kwila from Katagum Local Government Area, said the training equipped participants with practical skills to produce certified seeds.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore this training, many of us did not fully understand the requirements for producing quality seed. We have learned about proper seed production practices, certification requirements and how to manage seed production as a business.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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The programme also included business management training for Farmers\u2019 Hub managers, focusing on record-keeping, stock management, pricing, costing and accountability to improve the long-term sustainability of the centres.\n<\/p>\n
Speaking on the project\u2019s broader objective, Senior Agronomist at FSSS, Dr Abubakar Hassan, said the initiative aims to develop sustainable community-based seed systems rather than provide temporary support.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is not simply to distribute seeds but to build the capacity of communities to become seed producers themselves. By equipping these organisations with both technical knowledge and production resources, we are laying the foundation for stronger local seed systems that can continue serving farmers long after the project cycle.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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The ESTRRA Project, funded by the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, is designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen local institutions and promote climate-resilient farming among thousands of smallholder farmers across Bauchi North.\n<\/p>\n
Under the initiative, fertilisers, herbicides, seed treatment products, crop protection chemicals and knapsack sprayers worth millions of naira were distributed to 11 Farmers\u2019 Hubs across seven Local Government Areas.\n<\/p>\n
The beneficiary communities include Gambaki, Bulkachuwa, Chibiyayi, Diga, Dogon-Jeji, Faggo and Kurba in Katagum, Zaki, Giade, Itas-Gadau, Shira and Jama\u2019are Local Government Areas.\n<\/p>\n
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