Abuja: The RICOWAS Project was designed to boost climate-resilient rice production in Nigeria, Dr. Umar Abdullahi, the National Coordinator of the project, has said. Abdullahi made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the project also focuses on training farmers in climate-resilient rice production, including methods like the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and promoting sustainable soil and water management. “The project has also strengthened partnerships with organizations including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Automatic Data Processing Systems in various states, SRI 2030, a United Kingdom-based NGO promoting SRI globally, Bank of Agriculture among others,” Abdullahi said.
Over 10,000 smallholder farmers were trained and supported to adopt SRI and sustainable land and water management associated with rice fields in Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger, and Jigawa states. He stated that additional support from the project includes training artisans on machinery fabrication, compost, and organic fertiliser production. “Several training manuals in English and Hausa are distributed to ensure inclusive communication,” Abdullahi added.
The coordinator commended all partners and farmers for a successful implementation year and encouraged continued collaborations to improve food security in Nigeria and across West Africa. “The initiative is financed by the Adaptation Fund (AF) and implemented regionally by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), forms part of a 13-country ECOWAS effort to promote sustainable agro-ecological rice systems,” he noted.
Project interventions are taking place in Jigawa (Auyo, Miga, Kafin Hausa, Dutse and Jahun), Niger (Lavun, Gbako, Lapai, Agae and Katcha), Nasarawa (Doma, Obi, Nasarawa-Eggon, Lafia and Awe) and Gombe (Yamaltu-Deba, Balanga, Akko, Kwami and Kaltungo). NAN reports that the project was launched in Nigeria on Jan. 17, 2024, aiming at increasing rice systems productivity of smallholder farmers across West Africa by scaling up the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) in West Africa.