According to the Public Relations Officer of the College, Muhammad Dahiru Hudu, the training, sponsored by the SAPZ Programme with support from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is being facilitated by Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta.
The Farmer Field School (FFS) is to equip participants with practical, climate-smart agricultural knowledge and modern farming techniques that will enhance productivity, improve livelihoods, and contribute to building a healthier and more nutritious society.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the State Programme Coordinator of SAPZ Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ilyasu, welcomed the beneficiaries and reminded them that they were selected from among thousands of applicants based on the programme's selection criteria
.
He urged the participants to take full advantage of the training by actively participating in both the classroom and practical sessions, noting that the programme includes intensive demonstrations on the farmland provided for the exercise.
According to him, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta, was selected to facilitate the training because of its proven track record and outstanding capacity in delivering modern agricultural education and practical skills.
The State Programme Coordinator congratulated the participants on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kano State, while appreciating the continued support of the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and IFAD towards youth and women empowerment.
In her remarks, the SAPZ Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Hajiya Rabi Mustapha Ibrahim, described the training as a significant milestone in the programme's commitment to empowering women and youth through nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
She disclosed that the initiative would train 200 beneficiaries, the majority of whom are women, with the expectation that the knowledge acquired would positively impact agricultural production, household nutrition, and ultimately benefit up to two million people across the state.
Earlier, the Provost of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the SAPZ Kano Programme for selecting the College to facilitate the training. He also thanked the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and IFAD for their unwavering support towards agricultural development and human capital empowerment.
Dr. Hassan Ibrahim encouraged the beneficiaries to remain committed throughout the two-day intensive training, emphasizing that the knowledge and practical skills they acquire would position them for greater productivity and self-reliance.
The training features classroom sessions on Climate-Smart Agriculture, Agribusiness Development, Precision Agriculture, and other innovative farming practices, alongside practical demonstrations on land preparation, harrowing, tilling, spraying, irrigation management, and erosion control.
Also speaking, the SAPZ PIU Environmental and Climate Change Specialist, Dr. Kabiru Yau Abdullahi, commended Audu Bako College of Agriculture for its reputation as one of the region's leading agricultural training institutions and highlighted the importance of environmentally sustainable farming practices.
The Kano State Government has provided over 1,500 hectares of agricultural land across Tukui, Kadawa, Bagauda, and Bunkure to support the implementation of the programme.
As part of the opening activities, the State Programme Coordinator and members of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) conducted an inspection tour of the College's two-hectare irrigation demonstration farm with the first batch of
beneficiaries.
