By Ali Rabiu Ali/Jig/Agr/31st Oct, 2025
In the heart of Jigawa State, a quiet revolution is underway. Smallholder farmers, once struggling to make ends meet, are now harvesting abundance and transforming their lives. The catalyst behind this transformation? The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), a organization that has been working tirelessly to empower farmers with modern farming techniques and support.
Meet Buhari Rabiu, a farmer from Chadan community in Birnin Kudu. Just a few years ago, Buhari was struggling to eke out a living from his farm. But everything changed when SAA introduced him to modern rice planting methods. “I used to harvest six bags of rice, but now I harvest eleven,” he says with a broad smile. “I don’t think I will ever go back to the old farming.
For female farmers in Chuwasu and Baranda communities, SAA’s intervention has been a game-changer. “We were only assisting our husbands to process farm produce, but SAA organised us into groups and guided us to venture into farming in groups,” says Mrs. Amina Abdulrahman, a beneficiary. “The formations to us are more safe because we have passed individual losses and record huge profit when we farm in group.”
Mrs. Uwani Adamu, the coordinator of the Chuwasu Women Rice Farmers Association, adds, “We appeal to SAA to come to provide the rice milling machine to our community, to curtail losses we encounter while taking the paddy for processing in distant communities.”
Dr. Abdulhamid Gambo, the Deputy Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association, says, “We are proud to associate with the state and its farmers. We have seen cases where farmers have used their proceeds to invest in other business ventures, creating additional sources of income beyond agriculture.”
The Jigawa State Government has also demonstrated its commitment to supporting smallholder farmers. Dr. Saifullahi Umar, the State Technical Adviser to the Governor, commends SAA for its commitment to training farmers and extension workers on modern farming techniques. “The state government is committed to supporting SAA in achieving its agricultural development objectives in Jigawa State,” he says.
As SAA continues to work with farmers in Jigawa, the future looks bright. With its focus on regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and market-oriented agriculture, the organization is well-positioned to support the state’s agricultural development goals. For Buhari and thousands of other farmers in Jigawa, the seeds of hope have been sown, and the harvests of abundance are just beginning.
The story of SAA’s work in Jigawa is a testament to the power of partnership and innovation in transforming the lives of smallholder farmers. As the organization continues to work towards a food-secure future, one harvest at a time, the impact will be felt for generations to come.
