How climate-smart agriculture is empowering women in Adamawa

Struck by insurgency in 2014, resulting in their displacement from Borno State to Adamawa State, life became meaningless for many of the women having fled their villages with their families to escape the harsh and devastating reality driven by the violent activities of Boko Haram.

Relocating to Adamawa State, many of the women who are mainly smallholder farmers had their plights worsened by the impacts of climate change, which further reduced their chances of having a good life for themselves and their children.

In the face of those difficulties, some of the women found hope in agriculture, a familiar terrain but with a new approach – Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA).

Sharing their experiences in a chat with Our Correspondent during a field engagement organised by Propcom+, a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme, Rebecca James, Mary Peter and Rachael John narrated how embracing climate-smart agriculture has helped transformed their lives and livelihoods.

Rebecca James, a 70-year-old widow testified to the benefits of using climate-resilient seeds.

She said cultivating soya beans with improved seeds had significantly boosted her yield.

“From my small piece of land, I harvested 15 bags of soya beans last year.

“The proceeds helped me build a one-room apartment.

“I urge other women to embrace improved seeds to earn more and live better lives,” she said.

Mary Peter said embracing climate-smart agriculture had helped her recover from indebtedness, stressing that she had paid all her debtors from the proceeds of cultivating improved seeds.

According to her, she harvested over 20 bags of paddy in 2024 which earned her enough profit beyond her expectations.

She said she made N1 million from cultivating rice in 2024 and was able to “gallantly” provide food for her children.

“I can tell you that with the support from Asmau Farms and Propcom+ in terms of seed multiplication which ensured the availability of the right seeds to cultivate, we all have moved up, away from acute poverty.”

For Rachael John, a 54-year-old maize farmer, life has become meaningful as she no longer experienced the losses she usually did witnessed while cultivating maize before she embraced the use of improved seeds.

John said she had used the proceeds from her vocation to establish another business where she sells grains.

“If most women farmers use the kind of seeds we are using, poverty will be reduce in rural areas; this is the best way to empower women and reduce poverty while boosting food availability.”

The farmers commended Asmau Farms Limited and Propcom+ for providing all the support especially the seed and technical support to them.

They, however, appealed to Propcom+ to further assist them in providing water to enable them to carry out irrigation farming so that they could cultivate their crops all-year-round.

How climate-smart agriculture is empowering women in Adamawa

Gunmen kill one, abduct two women in Kano

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed men have killed one person and abducted two women in Kwanar Dangora community, Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State.

Zagazola Makama report that the attack occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday when the hoodlums, in large numbers and armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the residence of one Alhaji Ibrahim at Kwanar Dangora.

According to sources, the assailants abducted the two wives of the victim, identified as Safara’u Ibrahim and Attine Ibrahim.

“In the process, one Abdul Usman, 27, of the same address, was shot dead by the attackers.

“Scene of the incident was visited, the corpse was released to his relatives for burial.

“Investigation has commenced and efforts are being intensified to rescue the victims unhurt, trace and arrest the culprits,”said sources.

Gunmen kill one, abduct two women in Kano

Police investigate alleged rape of UNILAG student by lecturer

By: Zagazola Makama

The police in Lagos have commenced investigation into the alleged rape of a 20-year-old female student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, by a lecturer in the institution.

Sources said the survivor, identified as Owonifari Fiyinfoluwa, a 300-level student of the university, reported the matter to the police on Aug. 28.

“She alleged that on Aug. 22, at about 12 noon, her lecturer, Dr. Samuel Ojogbo, invited her into his office at the university and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

“A team of detectives visited the scene and the survivor was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” said the sources

The sources added that investigation into the case was ongoing.

Police investigate alleged rape of UNILAG student by lecturer