 on Saturday held a one-day capacity building training for farmers on community-based seed){kind=link}
By Fatima Mukhtar
The Himma Agricultural Support Initiative (HASI) on Saturday held a one-day capacity building training for farmers on community-based seed production and good agronomic practices at the Sahara Suites Conference Hall, Katsina.
The training, funded by Propcom and FCDO, brought together coordinators from the 34 local government areas of Katsina State, along with their secretaries and members, to enhance their knowledge of modern farming techniques aimed at improving productivity and ensuring food security.
Speaking during the event, the President of HASI, Professor Sanusi Jari, said the initiative was established by agricultural professionals, many of whom have served between 30 to 35 years in various agricultural institutions, including universities where some have risen to the ranks of professors and doctors.
Professor Jari explained that the group was formed out of a desire to give back to society by addressing the growing shortage of agricultural officers in Katsina State and Nigeria at large.
“We discovered that our society has a severe shortage of agricultural officers. Currently, the number of qualified and experienced officers across the state is barely above 50. Many of them are either retired or deceased, and unfortunately, in the past 30 years, no new ones have been recruited,” he said.
He stressed that agricultural officers are vital to agricultural development as they serve as the link between research institutions and local farmers.
“They bring innovations from laboratories to farms and take farmers’ challenges back to research centers for solutions. That is why our initiative seeks to fill this gap through training programs designed to equip farmers with practical knowledge and modern techniques,” he added.
Professor Jari also noted that one of HASI’s key objectives is to improve farmers’ competence in adopting proper agronomic methods to achieve higher yields and sustainable production.
“Farming, as practiced by many, is often unstructured, which affects productivity. But through good agronomic practices, farming can be done scientifically, leading to higher yields and better results,” he explained.
The training further emphasized community-based seed production, aimed at empowering farmers to produce quality seeds locally, thereby reducing dependence on external suppliers.
According to HASI, the initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to advancing agricultural development and improving the livelihoods of rural farmers through knowledge sharing, innovation, and technical support.
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