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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Farmers in Sabon-garin Zambuk, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, have reported a surge in agricultural productivity and household income following targeted interventions by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL).
Beneficiaries say the combined provision of improved seeds and solar-powered boreholes has redefined farming operations in the community, particularly during the dry season.
Muhammad Gardi, a tomato, maize and rice farmer in the area, described the intervention as transformational. Speaking with journalists during a visit to the community the farmer said, “we want to appreciate ACReSAL for coming to our aid in agriculture and water. They gave us improved tomato, maize and rice seeds, and we have seen a lot of changes. With a very small quantity of fertilizer, we are getting more yield”.
According to him, output has nearly doubled on the same plots of land. “Before the intervention, we harvested about five bags of maize from a piece of land. Now we harvest up to 10 bags. The same improvement applies to rice. Even tomatoes have improved. We now get over 30 baskets from a space where we used to produce around 20,” Gardi stated.
He attributed the gains to both seed quality and reliable access to water. “Previously, dry season farming was a major challenge because of water scarcity. Now, ACReSAL has constructed boreholes for our farms and solar-powered ones for the community. We no longer worry about water for irrigation or domestic use.”
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Beyond farm productivity, the intervention is driving local economic activity. “The improved yield has helped our revenue generation. Buyers now come with vehicles to evacuate produce, and revenue payments to the local government have increased. As farmers, we no longer depend only on rainy season harvests to handle responsibilities like marriages and other family needs,” he added.
Another member of the community, Jauro Samaila, said the impact spans multiple farmer groups. “We have about 28 registered clusters and six unregistered clusters benefiting from the intervention. ACReSAL provided improved maize, rice, millet and guinea corn seeds. The millet and guinea corn are for the rainy season, while maize and rice have already boosted our dry season farming,” he said.
He emphasized that water infrastructure has been a game changer. “Apart from the seeds, they have addressed water scarcity by constructing boreholes on our farms and for the community. Our living standard has improved. We really lack words to appreciate ACReSAL and the Gombe State Government”.
Providing further insight into the scope of the intervention, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro, said the project was executed in collaboration with the State Ministry of Agriculture to ensure sustainability.
“In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, we have distributed more than 3,700 kilograms of drought-resistant seedlings, including millet, guinea corn and maize. The Ministry identified farmer clusters across the 11 local government areas.
Since the project will eventually wind down, it is important that we work through the Ministry to guarantee institutional memory and long-term sustainability,” he explained.
