Sasakawa Africa seeks to deepen agricultural impact, expand reach
Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has disclosed that it will take pride in the progress made over the years to reposition strategies for greater impact across Africa’s agricultural sector. The Country
Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has disclosed that it will take pride in the progress made over the years to reposition strategies for greater impact across Africa’s agricultural sector.
The Country Director of SAA, Dr. Godwin Atser, made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the organisation’s annual meeting with the theme “SAA at 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale".
Atser noted that the gathering provides an opportunity to not only review past achievements but also redefine ambitions in response to emerging challenges.
According to him, the organisation’s yearly themes are deliberately selected to address pressing and evolving issues in agriculture, guiding interventions and policy direction.
He recalled that in 2023, the meeting held in Kano focused on “Building Resilience in Food Systems in the Face of Rising Food Demand and Climate Change,” a theme that strengthened the organisation’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, improved markets, and nutrition-sensitive farming practices.
Atser explained that the 2024 meeting in Zaria, themed “Decarbonisation of Cropping Systems,” helped draw global attention to sustainable farming practices and soil conservation.
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He added that the initiative attracted additional funding support, including backing from the Nippon Foundation and a grant facilitated through the African Development Bank to implement decarbonisation projects in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
He further highlighted that the 2025 theme, “Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services,” underscored the importance of bridging the gap between farmers and extension services.
Citing available data, he noted that the extension-to-farmer ratio stands at approximately one agent to 10,000 farmers, necessitating innovative, technology-driven solutions.
This, he said, led to additional funding support from the Gates Foundation through the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) to scale digital extension efforts.
Marking its 40th anniversary globally and 34 years of operations in Nigeria, Atser said the 2026 theme reflects both the organisation’s achievements and the urgent need to expand its reach amid growing challenges such as climate variability, population growth, and economic pressures.
He expressed concern that despite ongoing government efforts to transform agriculture, Nigeria continues to spend about $10 billion annually on food imports, including wheat, rice, sugar, fish, and tomato paste.
According to him, the country’s production capacity still falls short of demand, stressing the need to deploy appropriate technologies to farmers through effective extension and advisory services to boost productivity and ensure food security.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, emphasised the need for modernisation and increased productivity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, describing it as critical to the country’s long-term economic development.
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He noted that Nigeria’s agricultural system is largely driven by millions of smallholder farmers who remain central to food security and rural livelihoods. According to him, the country possesses vast agricultural potential, with about 76.6 per cent of its land suitable for farming and supported by abundant water resources.
Suzuki called for increased mechanisation, reduction in post-harvest losses, and stronger market linkages to fully harness the country’s agricultural capacity.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, described SAA’s 40th anniversary as a significant milestone in advancing agriculture across Nigeria and Africa.
He said the theme of the workshop reflects both past achievements and future opportunities, noting that SAA has played a vital role in improving the productivity, incomes, and livelihoods of smallholder farmers through initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture, regenerative practices, and market-oriented interventions.
Read Also: Sasakawa Africa showcases climate-smart innovations
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The minister highlighted key achievements under the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), implemented in collaboration with development partners including the World Bank, GIZ, OCP Africa, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These, he said, include the development of a Soil Health Card, establishment of a Nigerian Soil Information System, and provision of modern laboratory equipment across 12 states.
He added that the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening agriculture as a core pillar of its economic diversification agenda under the Renewed Hope initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a focus on food security, youth empowerment, and increased productivity.
Also speaking, the Chief Country Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) outlined the agency’s interventions in Nigeria, particularly in agricultural mechanisation, seed systems, and market-oriented farming.
He explained that JICA’s programmes aim to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain, from input supply to production, financing, and market access, to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.
The JICA representative highlighted initiatives such as support for rice seed production through the National Cereals Research Institute, the implementation of the Market-Oriented Agriculture Extension Project (SHEP), and the Africa Field Innovation Center for Agricultural Technology (AFICAT), which promotes the adoption of appropriate mechanisation technologies.
