For the past 14 years, Mukaba Magaji, a #maize #farmer, faced numerous challenges in his pursuit of a successful #harvest. He struggled with low-quality seeds, poor soil fertility and traditional farming techniques, all of which contributed to low yields. His annual average harvest was just 20 bags of 100 kilogrammes of maize—barely enough to support his family and provide for his children's education. However, his harvest improved when Mukaba became a participant in the Acting Now project in his community, Jenua, Kubau local government area, Kaduna state of Nigeria. The project equipped him with essential skills and knowledge in good agricultural practices such as proper soil management, crop rotation, pest control, and high-quality seed selection. With this newfound knowledge, Mukaba embraced change and adapted his farming methods. The impact was remarkable. For the last farming season, Mukaba harvested an impressive 40 bags of 100 kilogrammes of maize from the same plot of land, doubling his #yield. "The community facilitators under the Acting Now project built our capacity in good agricultural practices; the project also provided us with high-quality seeds. My harvest has doubled from last year’s dry season farming when I adopted these practices," Mukaba shared proudly. Mukaba’s success story is not an isolated case. The Acting Now project has engaged 23,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria, supporting the #sustainable production of fish, potatoes, maize, fruits, and vegetables in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and Ogun states. This project, funded by Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs), is part of a comprehensive effort to transform the #agricultural landscape in implementing countries. Ogochukwu Precious Akunna, Pita Ochai
