3 min read
Susan Godwin was in Lafia in 2013, helping her daughter nurse her newborn baby, when she received the news that her house and 30-heactare farm back home in Tudun Adebu had been burnt down during an intercommunal conflict in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“I got a call from someone in the village that some people were burning houses,” the 60-year old woman recalled the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.
Ms Godwin’s family later returned to the village to rebuild their livelihood, until the community was again attacked the following year, forcing everyone to flee.
“A lot of people were killed and our house was destroyed. Thieves and herdsmen harvested everything on my farm. I also left my hand tiller behind on the farm.”
PT: What is the size of the land?
Ms Muhammad: About two hectares
PT: Why did you choose your crops?
Ms Muhammad: I considered two basic things, which are soil and market. The soil in Jigawa is good for the crops I cultivate so they grow well and I have good output. Secondly, the market is readily available. I don’t have to wait for a long time before the produce are all bought off.
PT: Have you heard of improved seeds?
Ms Muhammad: Yes I have heard of improved seeds.
Sabuwa Muhammad
PT: Where do you get your seeds from?
Mrs Bello: Firstly, I had the opportunity of owing a land. Secondly, I was influenced by my in-law who is a long-term farmer. He is a graduate in Agric and a professional with over 40 years experience in farming. Whenever I am home, he calls to advise me to have a piece of land to cultivate rice. Then when I had the opportunity of getting a land, which I inherited from my late father, I started using the two for farming. Sadly, some women in my locality inherited farm lands too either from their husbands or their parents but they do not have the opportunity and means of farming. With women farmers associations or Cooperatives, they usually get certain assistance. When the government wants to give out inputs or palliative of any kind, they don’t give to individuals; they give to groups or associations. That inspired me to start a group to help these people so that they can have something and also start farming.
5 min read
Zainab Isarah, 52, a smallholder farmer in Zamfara State. The mother of seven cultivates a variety of crops. In this fifth episode of our new series, Ms Isa shares her experience with PREMIUM TIMES.
PT: What crops do you cultivate?
Ms Isarah: In fact, I am an integrated farmer. I have a beautiful herbal farm and I do fishery, poultry and grains like soybeans, rice and sorghum.
PT: How long have you been farming?
Ms Isarah: I was born in the farm, so throughout my life I have been on the farm. My father has been my mentor and I did it along with schooling.