The National Coordinating Office of the Agro-processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support, APPEALS Project, led by the National Project Coordinator – Mr. Mohammed Sani Jobdi, represented by the National Procurement Specialist – Engr. Abdulgafar Olukayode Tijani has held technology demonstrations for Rice, Wheat and Tomato farmers in Kano State.

This intervention is in line with the Project’s subcomponent on Support to Technology Adoption aimed at increasing beneficiaries’ access to and adoption of improved agricultural inputs such as improved seeds & seedlings, agro-chemicals, agricultural equipment and farm machinery.

The expected outcomes from the intervention is the introduction and wide dissemination of transformational technologies, with at least 30 percent of project-supported beneficiaries adopting one or more of these technologies. The technologies to be adopted would rapidly enhance productivity as well as total production in the intervention areas. The technology adoptions being supported by the Project are scalable technologies that are proven to be climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive, complemented by Good Agricultural Practices.

The recent demonstrations in Kano State held in three Local Government Areas spread across the three senatorial districts, had the NCO team, Staff of the State Coordination Office, Representatives of the State Government, Traditional Heads, Technology Demonstrators, Farmer Beneficiaries and other stakeholders in attendance.

During the demonstrations exercise, motorized bush cutters, tillers and harvesters for rice, wheat and tomato production were demonstrated in Bugau, Kura Local Government Area; in Zangon Buhari of Bunkure Local Government Area and in Dandalama, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area for Rice, Wheat and Tomato value chains respectively.

Other technologies demonstrated so far for rice production in Kano state include Faro 44, Urea Deep Placement, Line Spacing, Bio pesticide, and Water Management for 250 rice farmers. For Wheat production, improved technologies including Reina 28, Urea Deep Placement, Bio pesticide, Line Spacing and Raised Beds have been demonstrated for 200 wheat farmers. Improved technologies demonstrated for Tomato production include Chipli variety, Padma variety, Urea Deep Placement, Bio pesticide, Stalking and line planting for 220 tomato farmers.

Comparisons between the traditional methods used by the farmers and the improved technologies demonstrated showed greater efficiency recorded from the use of the modern equipment. Some of the observed merits during the demonstrations include time and energy efficiency; increased food safety and nutrition due to non-chemical weed control; reduction of drudgery and the promotion of precision farming that can lead to tremendous increase in production etc.

Beneficiaries who participated in these exercises were delighted by the positive outcomes of the demonstrations and expressed their willingness to adopt the technologies, while pledging to abide by the prescribed Good Agricultural Practices to increase their yields and improve their livelihoods. Many of these farmers are already adopting some of the technologies.

The technology demonstrations initiative being led by the APPEALS National Coordinating Office are tailored to each of the priority value chains and scheduled to hold in all the six participating states of the project.