The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria organized two Media Field Days (MFDs) in 2025 to highlight its impact on smallholder farmers and rural communities. The first, funded by The Nippon Foundation (TNF), took place from October 23–29 across Nasarawa and Jigawa States, offering over 20 journalists firsthand exposure to SAA’s field interventions. The second, conducted under the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) from November 25–29, served as a final statewide visibility exercise showcasing five years of transformative impact funded by the Kano State Government, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF).

The October MFD featured a courtesy visit to State Ministries of Agriculture, field trips across nine intervention communities, and engagement with Farmer Organizations (FOs). At the Japanese MoFA-funded Assakio Rice Value Chain Development Center in Lafia Local Government Area, beneficiaries showcased measurable progress driven by SAA’s strategic interventions in productivity enhancements, nutrition, market access and livelihood enhancement. Center manager, Mr. Emmanuel Angulu Odeh, in his submission, backed by official documents, said rice yields have risen from 1.8 to 4.8 t/ha, 66 jobs have been created, and the cooperative now manages USD 1,379 (equivalent to about ₦2 million) in savings and has reinvested USD 4,137 (equivalent to ₦6 million) in processing equipment. The center stored over 1,100 bags of rice in the last farming season alone, generating USD 689 (equivalent to about ₦1 million) in revenue and strengthening community resilience.

In Jigawa State, the field visits to Dutse, Birnin Kudu, Auyo and Ringim Local Government Areas highlighted expanding government commitment, including the release of ₦150 million in counterpart funding to scale interventions reaching an additional 9,000 farmers in 34 new communities. Farmers shared compelling testimonies of yield increases and improved soil health following the adoption of SAA’s regenerative practices such as composting, proper spacing, biochar incorporation, and mulching.

The second statewide visibility exercise (KSADP MFD) documented widespread gains: over 477,000 farmers reached yield increases of up to 226%, more than 732,000 MT of additional grain produced, and a 51% reduction in postharvest losses. Success stories from millers, fabricators, youths and mechanization beneficiaries further illustrated the scale of transformation across all 44 Local Government Areas.

SAA Nigeria Country Director Dr. Godwin Atser reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to deepening regenerative, nutrition-sensitive and market-oriented agriculture through strong community and government partnerships to support government efforts towards achieving food, nutrition and income security.

Mallama Aisha sharing her success story in Fachuwa Community, Ringim Local Government Area (LGA), Jigawa state, Nigeria.