On 5th January 2026, Global Agricultural Extension and Rural Services (GAERS) officially launched the Building Soil Health (BSH) Programme – Phase II in Sokoto State, Nigeria, marking a major step forward in advancing regenerative agriculture, farmer resilience, and sustainable food systems in the region.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Sokoto State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Sokoto Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), with valued funding support from the Rapunzel Foundation.
About the Programme
BSH Phase II is a six-month practical implementation programme designed to help farmers restore soil fertility, reduce dependence on expensive chemical inputs, and improve long-term farm productivity through locally adaptable solutions.
The initiative combines training, demonstration, field experimentation, and farmer-to-farmer learning to create visible results that can be replicated across communities.
Core Focus Areas
The programme promotes:
- Regenerative soil management practices that rebuild soil health and biological activity
- Farmer-led compost production using locally available organic materials
- Bio-input development, including natural and microbial soil fertility solutions
- Climate-smart farming practices for improved resilience in dryland conditions
- Demonstration farming to showcase practical innovations in real field settings
- Training of Trainers (ToT) to equip Community-Based Advisors (CBAs), extension actors, and lead farmers to train others
Why It Matters
Many farmers continue to face declining soil fertility, rising fertilizer costs, and climate-related production challenges. BSH Phase II responds by helping farmers adopt lower-cost, practical methods that improve productivity while protecting natural resources.
The programme is designed not only to improve yields, but also to strengthen:
- Farmer income resilience
- Local innovation capacity
- Knowledge sharing systems
- Reduced dependency on external inputs
- Long-term sustainability of farming systems
Implementation Approach
GAERS is combining virtual learning, physical workshops, demonstration plots, and community outreach to ensure that knowledge moves beyond training sessions into real farm adoption.
The establishment of the GAERS Demonstration Farm and Training Hall in Sokoto further supports this mission as a hub for learning, trials, and future scaling.
Looking Ahead
Through BSH Phase II, GAERS aims to build a strong foundation for wider replication of regenerative agriculture models across Northern Nigeria.
Our Goal
Reduce chemical dependence while improving productivity, soil health, and farmer income resilience.
GAERS – Empowering Farmers • Strengthening Food Systems