The program was presented today by Mukhtar Bello, the Environmental Safeguard Officer, alongside members of the State Project Management Unit (SPMU). Samuel Ugo Innocent, the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert for the Soil Values Project, emphasized that this ten-year initiative is funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). It aims to enhance soil fertility and productivity across 2 million hectares of farmland in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, with 800,000 hectares targeted for recovery in Nigeria, particularly in Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi States.

Innocent highlighted that the Soil Values program is designed to tackle ongoing challenges related to soil health and fertility while bolstering the resilience of smallholder farmers in the Sahel region. The IFDC has chosen to partner with the ACReSAL project in Nigeria due to the alignment of their objectives, allowing the Soil Values program to complement ACReSAL’s efforts across19 participating states and the Federal Capital Territory.

During their visit, the delegation engaged with community members, conducting focus group discussions to outline the program’s goals and encourage local support for its success. District Heads Alhaji Mohammad Inuwa of Fajewa and Alhaji Ibrahim Sani Gaya of Yartiti welcomed the initiative, praising ACReSAL’s commitment to regional development. They also called on their communities to support the Soil Values program for the benefit of both local and state agricultural productivity.

The delegation included key figures such as Madinah Ayuba, Country Coordinator of IFDC, and David Stanley, Field Lead for the Soil Values Project in Kano. The program is expected to make significant strides in improving agricultural practices and soil management in the region.