The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), in partnership with Soil Values, has launched an intensive two-day capacity-building programme to transform fertilizer management and strengthen climate-smart agriculture across northern Nigeria.
The training, held from Tuesday, 25th to Wednesday, 26th November 2025 at the CDA, is part of a broader initiative targeting improved agronomic practices for more than 10,000 farmers in Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi States.
Designed as a training-of-trainers model, the programme equips extension agents with hands-on digital skills to generate precise fertilizer recommendations and deliver science-based advisory services.
The first phase brought together 40 extension agents from Kano State, with subsequent sessions scheduled for 35 participants from Jigawa and 25 from Bauchi State.
Speaking during the workshop, Dr. Bassam Abdulrahman Lawan, one of the lead facilitators, said the programme aims to ensure that extension personnel can harness modern Decision Support Tools for nutrient management. According to him, the tools will enhance fertilizer efficiency, reduce guesswork, and support farmers in adopting data-driven agronomic practices.
Participants were introduced to three major tools: Rice Advice – which provides site-specific fertilizer recommendations; Virtual Agronomist – which offers integrated nutrient and agronomic guidance; A GPS-based measurement app – designed for accurate land size calculations across various terrains.
Declaring the training open, the Director of CDA, Professor Sanusi Gaya Mohamed, encouraged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity, emphasizing the Centre’s commitment to strengthening agricultural extension systems and scaling up sustainable practices across northern Nigeria.
Also addressing the trainees, the Deputy Director of Research and Innovation at CDA, Dr. Mustapha Mohammed Bello, described the programme as a major step toward improving agricultural advisory services. He reminded participants that each extension agent is expected to step down the training to at least 110 farmers, creating a multiplier effect that will reach thousands of households across the three states.
At the close of the programme, participants expressed deep appreciation to CDA and Soil Values for exposing them to cutting-edge technologies they described as “eye-opening,” “timely,” and “transformative.” They pledged to immediately integrate the tools into their field operations and to support farmers in adopting more accurate, science-based fertilizer application techniques.
The extension agents noted that the skills gained have boosted their confidence and strengthened their ability to provide high-quality, data-driven guidance capable of improving yields and enhancing soil health.
They concluded by commending CDA and Soil Values for investing in their professional development and empowering them with innovations that promise to positively impact thousands of farmers across northern Nigeria.
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