The Sa’l Anwar’l Ju’Mal Consultaire Limited (SCL) project Juriya with funding support from mastercard foundation has commenced a five year project on regenerative agriculture or carbon farming in three selected states namely Adamawa, Kaduna and Nasarawa states.
Announcing the commencement of the project in Adamawa State on Monday in Yola, the project champion and regenerative agriculture specialist, SCL project Juriya, Dr. Andrew Kwasari said the regenerative agriculture is going to be driven and owned by the people of the state.
He noted that already 24 field agents from the state have been given one month training on how to effectively carry out the carbon farming adding that each one of them is expected to also step down the knowledge to 200 small holder farmers.
Kwasari noted that 72,000 small holder households comprising of 75% youths and 70% female will benefit from the five year program across the three states.
He also noted that no fewer than 360 communities across the three states covering approximately 36,000 hectares will benefit from the exercise.
Our correspondent reports that regenerative agriculture or carbon farming which is a new farming technique is a form of agricultural practice encompassing Integrated Crop Tree Livestock (ICTL) adoption and implementation. The technique also excludes the use of chemicals on farms.
Some of the principles and practices of the carbon farming include sustainable land management, plant combination, integrated pest control, sustainable water management and livestock integration.
Also speaking, a resource person and a Forester, Professor Ioryisa Verinumbe noted that carbon farming is currently the farming system in vogue for its immesurable benefits to the people.
He expressed optimism that the people of Adamawa and other selected states will readily accept the practice because of the good results it will give especially looking at the multi-dimesional nature of carbon farming and the negative effect of chemicals to the soil.
Speaking earlier, governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri thanked SCL and mastercard foundation for including Adamawa State among the benefitting states.
The governor who was represented by the commissioner of agriculture, Umar Daware said the state government will give the SCL project Juriya all the needed support because of its anticipated benefits to Adamawa rural farmers.
He noted that Adamawa State is majorly an agrarian state as 80 percent of the people engaged in agriculture consisting of livestock rearing and farming adding that the new system will enhance productivity of farmers in the state.
