IITA training: Game-Changing Training Boosts Seed Producers Across Adamawa State

IITA training

At least 43 seed production cooperative societies from different parts of Adamawa State have received advanced training on how to grow and market high-yield, climate-smart seeds. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) organized the training with support from the Islamic Development Bank, ADAS, and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development.

The event, held at the Nyako Centre, State Secretariat in Yola, brought together key players in agriculture, experts in seed production, and cooperative members who are ready to shape the future of farming in Adamawa.

Seed production is not just farming — it’s the backbone of food security. Without quality seeds, farmers cannot grow enough food, and that affects everyone from the village to the city.

The training focused on climate change, which has already started to affect how farmers plant and harvest. Unpredictable weather, floods, and droughts are killing crops and increasing hunger. That’s why this training came at the right time.

Speaking at the event, Alford Gundiri, Director at the Ministry of Agriculture in Adamawa, who represented the Commissioner, stressed that the ministry is doing everything possible to promote the use of climate-smart seeds. These seeds can survive tough conditions and still give farmers good yields.

Gundiri said, “We are determined to make sure that these seeds are not just available, but also affordable. When farmers get better seeds, they get better harvests. When harvests improve, profits improve. That is how we lift communities out of poverty.”

He explained that if more cooperatives learn how to produce and sell certified seeds, the price of food will go down, and more families will eat better and live healthier lives.

Munir Ahmed, who manages the TADAMON Project under the Islamic Development Bank, explained the bigger picture. The world is facing a global food crisis made worse by conflicts in different parts of the world. The goal of the training is not just to help Adamawa — it’s to make sure Africa has a strong and sustainable food supply system.

Ahmed said, “When farmers understand how to produce the right seeds and how to sell them, the entire food chain becomes stronger. We want to stop relying on imports and start growing our own food in smart and profitable ways.”

One of the participants, Vasty Nashe Teneke, said the training gave her and her cooperative new ideas. She believes that if cooperatives work with clear goals, they can become more powerful. Vasty said they learned how to focus on leadership, planning, and teamwork, which are all important for success in agriculture.

Vasty said, “Our members must think big. It’s not just about growing crops. It’s about creating value and building a future. That means working together with honesty and purpose.”

Another voice from the training was Baba Sahabo, a certified seed producer who has been attending IITA training for five years. He said the sessions have helped him understand more about marketing and agro-business, which are crucial for turning seed production into a real business, not just a side hustle.

Sahabo said, “You can’t just grow seeds and wait. You need to know who your customers are, where the markets are, and how to build your brand. That’s what these trainings have taught us. I’ve gone from being a small farmer to a smart farmer.”

The organizers made it clear that this wasn’t a one-time workshop. It’s part of a bigger push to revolutionize agriculture in northern Nigeria by empowering those at the heart of it — the cooperatives.

Each cooperative society that took part left with fresh knowledge and a challenge — to take what they learned and apply it before the next planting season. They must now prove that knowledge truly is power — the power to produce more food, earn more money, and feed more people.

As the rains draw near, signalling a new farming season, the focus now shifts from theory to practice. Will these cooperatives use what they learned? Will they change the narrative for their communities?

Time will tell. But one thing is clear — Adamawa’s farmers are no longer in the dark. They’ve been given the tools. It’s up to them to use them wisely.