In 2024, RadioIITA’s Farmers Outreach Initiative continued its mission to empower smallholder farmers with cutting-edge agricultural knowledge and practical tools, transforming livelihoods across Nigeria. Through strategic collaborations with IITA’s specialized crop breeding programs of yam, cassava, maize, soybean, cowpea, plantain, and banana, the outreach addressed critical challenges, introduced innovative techniques, and built farmers’ capacity to boost productivity and community well-being.

From 18th to 29th December 2024, the RadioIITA team took a proactive step by visiting the farms of some participants from the 2024 training. These visits provided a firsthand view of the program’s impact, documenting the farmers’ progress and their compelling stories of transformation. These on-site engagements revealed the tangible benefits of the year’s training and highlighted the significant changes in farming practices and yields.

Farmers learned advanced techniques tailored to their specific crops, from planting disease-free materials for plantain and banana to adopting high-yield maize varieties and managing pests in cowpea. Beneficiaries shared stories of how the training sessions had replaced outdated practices with modern, effective methods. For instance, Peace David from Ijebu Ode noted how her thriving plantain farm now sustains her family, while Olayinka Kazeem praised the SAMMAZ 52 maize variety for its robust yields.

One standout story emerged from Taoheed Ajala Kehinde, an unemployed graduate who turned to farming out of necessity. By implementing techniques shared by a fellow farmer who attended the training, Taoheed improved his fertilizer application and achieved remarkable yields. The ripple effect of this shared knowledge extended to Taoheed’s friend, Oladoja Samuel, who applied the practices on his farm and became a source of knowledge for others in his community.

The program also introduced soybean farmers to rhizobia inoculants like Nodumax and advanced cassava farmers’ techniques with semi-autotrophic hydroponics (SAH) planting materials. The farmers’ testimonies underscored the life-changing impact of these innovations. Olubunmi Tayo Oke, for example, spoke about how learning to reuse cassava stems for seed multiplication transformed her farming practices.

The farm visits further underscored the initiative’s ripple effect, showcasing how participants like Oloruntoba Olufemi, Chairman of the Cassava Growers Association in Ondo State, have become local agricultural consultants. Their influence extends the reach of RadioIITA’s training, fostering collaboration and shared growth within communities.

RadioIITA’s Farmers Outreach Initiative exemplifies the power of targeted agricultural interventions. By connecting farmers with research-backed solutions and practical skills, the program transforms individual lives and uplifts entire communities, creating a legacy of resilience and food security.

Contributed by Anu Oyeleye