Story by Rita Abiodun, Oxfam in Nigeria's Media and Communications Officer
“Trial and error are the best phrases to describe the way we used to farm in our community,” said 33-year-old Yusuf Kani, a farmer from Darajiya community of Shira local government area of Bauchi state.
Most of the people in Darajiya community are small-scale farmers. “Farming comes naturally to us as it was handed down generation. We just do it the way our parents taught us – till the soil, plant during the rainy season, clear the weeds, add fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides here and there and just hope for a bounty harvest. When we have good yield, we thank God and on seasons when we don’t, we credit it to ill fate,” said Yusuf.
“I was privileged to be part of the people trained by Oxfam on better farming practices in my community. We did not know that we had a role to play in determining the yield of our crops.
“We were enlightened of the impact climate change, appropriate fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide application have on our crop production. That training was more than enlightenment for me on how to change my fortune as a farmer, it became a source of empowerment and livelihood for me,” said Yusuf.
“I have become a respected farm doctor in my community. Farmers from our neighbouring villages now hire me and my other colleagues who also received the same training to guide them on the appropriate application of fertilizers and pest control on their farms. I charge an average of NGN 400 per knapsack and no more than NGN 3,000 per farm,” Yusuf said as he adjusted his knapsack.
“Savings generated from this new venture enabled me to buy four goats – two each for my wives. We are enjoying more peace in our home now because that is a new source of income for them when the goats begin to procreate and multiply,” Yusuf said beaming from ear to ear.
Through funding support from Global Affairs Canada, Oxfam Livelihood and Empowerment (LINE) project is improving the livelihoods of 10,000 (60% women) rural farmer households in Bauchi State through increased farm productivity, enhanced market access, better nutrition, and improved/enhanced enabling environment for agricultural business development.
Indeed, when small-scale farmers adopt improved farming methods, they increase their agricultural income and escape poverty, thereby increasing local food security.