Group trains, empowers 200 women farmers in Jigawa

A section of vulnerable women farmers from Yankwashi and Burji while given them modern farming tools by PACE in Jigawa state.

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Two hundred vulnerable women, including widows and mothers of orphans, have been trained and empowered by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement through its climate-smart agriculture initiative in Jigawa State.

The UK-based organisation, working in collaboration with the Women Environmental Programme, supported women farmers in Yankwashi and Burji Local Government Areas with modern agricultural skills and essential farming equipment to help them adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods.

Speaking to PUNCH Online on Thursday, the beneficiaries said the support would help them close gaps in their farming activities and strengthen their ability to provide for their families.

Fatima Ibrahim, a widow from Yankwashi, said, “Before this training, farming was difficult and unpredictable for me. Now, with these new techniques and irrigation pumps, I am hopeful for better harvests and a brighter future for my children.”

Another beneficiary, Rukayya Musa from Yankwashi, said the intervention had significantly improved her farming experience. “I used to struggle with maintaining crops during dry spells. This climate-smart knowledge and the certified seeds have changed everything for us,” she said.

From Burji LGA, Amina Bello, a mother of three orphans, explained, “I faced many challenges, but life has turned around thanks to the solar-powered irrigation tools. I believe I can now support my family fully.”

Also from Burji, Maryam Usman noted, “We’ve learned how to use water efficiently and manage the soil better. This will protect our farms from climate shocks and help us grow more food sustainably.”

PACE’s State Team Lead in Jigawa, Mr Muiz Adeniran, told PUNCH Online shortly after the distribution of empowerment materials on Thursday that the project aims to build climate resilience among vulnerable smallholder farmers.

“Our goal is to ensure that the most vulnerable can adapt to climate change. This project not only boosts productivity but uplifts the entire community,” he said.

He emphasised that empowering women farmers is vital for food security, adding, “Access to knowledge and resources must be inclusive.”

WEP Programme Officer, Mrs Blessing Fukki, said the organisation recently conducted a training of trainers (ToT) session for 30 extension workers and civil society representatives, who are expected to step down the training across the LGAs.

She said the training covered practical climate-smart agriculture, improved water-use techniques, sustainable crop production, and post-harvest management.

Fukki added that the beneficiaries also received agricultural inputs, including solar-powered irrigation machines, certified seeds and fertilisers. “This timely distribution will allow them to implement their new skills ahead of the dry season,” she said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Yankwashi LGA, Shu’aibu Adamu, commended the initiative, saying it aligns with the council’s efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods.

His Burji counterpart, Najibullahi Gantsa, said the project had laid a foundation for sustainable climate resilience in the area.

“Such initiatives breathe life into our communities by equipping farmers with the tools to thrive under changing weather patterns,” he added.

Officials of the Jigawa State Government, traditional rulers, and district heads of Yankwashi and Burji LGAs were present at the event and praised the partnership between PACE and WEP.

The intervention comes at a time when climate shocks continue to threaten food production across Nigeria, making the PACE-supported initiative an emerging model of hope, sustainability and inclusive growth in Jigawa.

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