The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, has established a demonstration farm in Katsina State to promote modern farming techniques and boost agricultural productivity.
Located at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University farm in Katsina, the demonstration site is designed to expose farmers to improved agricultural practices, high-yielding crop varieties and effective pest management strategies aimed at enhancing food production.
Speaking during the inauguration of the project, the Lead Consultant, Professor Muhuyidden Oyekunle, said the demonstration farm would cultivate key crops such as maize, cowpea and groundnut to provide farmers with hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture.
He explained that the initiative would showcase the use of improved seed varieties, modern crop management practices and integrated pest control methods to increase yields, strengthen food security and improve farmers’ resilience to climate change.
According to Oyekunle, the project extends beyond crop production by providing technical support and capacity-building for farmers and other stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
He said the initiative would introduce pilot innovations that could be replicated in farming communities across Katsina State while identifying viable agribusiness opportunities and assessing local challenges limiting agricultural development.
The lead consultant added that the programme places strong emphasis on inclusive participation by ensuring that women and youths benefit from its interventions through improved access to knowledge, technology and agricultural opportunities.
He stressed that sustained community engagement and sensitisation would be critical to achieving long-term impact, noting that close collaboration with local farmers would guarantee the sustainability of the initiative.
In his remarks, the Katsina ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Alhaji Nafiu Muhammed Musa, described the partnership between IITA and ACReSAL as a major step towards improving farming practices and strengthening agricultural development across the state.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities and build farmers’ capacity to adopt modern and climate-resilient farming technologies.
Musa further noted that the administration of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has prioritised agriculture as a key driver of economic growth and rural development.
According to him, the introduction of IITA’s innovative agricultural technologies would complement the state government’s ongoing efforts to transform the agricultural sector, improve food security and enhance the livelihoods of farmers across Katsina State.
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