The Sasakawa Africa Association has commenced training of agro-dealers to strengthen support for 100,000 smallholder maize and soybean farmers.

The training targeted Kaduna and Niger to boost productivity and enhance food security.

Isaac Eni, consultant to SAA, disclosed this during a two-day training for agro-dealers in Zaria on Wednesday.

The training was organised by SAA in partnership with other stakeholders to improve farmers’ access to quality agricultural inputs and enhance productivity along the maize and soybean value chain.

The programme is being implemented under SAA’s project on enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of smallholder farmers in maize and soybean systems in Nigeria.

Mr Eni said, “The initiative targets 100,000 smallholder farmers across 12 local government areas in Kaduna state and eight LGAs in Niger.”

According to him, improving farmers’ access to accurate information on agricultural inputs is critical to addressing low yields and strengthening national food security.

He explained that agro-dealers play a strategic role in agricultural development because they are often the closest source of advisory support available to rural farmers.

“Farmers depend heavily on agro-dealers for seeds, fertilisers and agro-chemicals; By strengthening the dealers’ knowledge, we are indirectly improving farmers’ productivity and contributing to food security,” Mr Eni said.

He added that the training equipped agro-dealers with skills in safe handling of agro-chemicals, improved agronomic practices and enterprise management to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Mr Eni described agro-dealers as potential “semi-agricultural extension agents,” particularly in view of the shortage of agricultural extension workers across the country.

“With limited extension personnel, empowering agro-dealers helps bridge the knowledge gap and ensures farmers receive timely guidance that can improve yields and reduce production risks,” he said.

Mukhtar Ibrahim, AGRA desk officer for the Maize and Rice Consortium Project in Kaduna, said the training was to strengthen collaboration across the agricultural value chain.

He said the initiative would enhance synergy among agro-dealers, farmers, and agro-service providers, ultimately improving food production outcomes.

(NAN)