Sokoto State, Nigeria | 03.09.2026
Global Agricultural Extension and Rural Services (GAERS) has officially commissioned its Building Soil Health (BSH) Demonstration Farm and Learning Facility in Sokoto State, marking an important milestone in its efforts to strengthen farmer-centred agricultural learning, soil health management and climate-resilient farming.
The commissioning brought together representatives of the Sokoto State Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sokoto Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), Sokoto Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, farmer organisations, academia, technical experts, development partners, media and the GAERS community.
The facility has been established as a practical platform where farmers and agricultural practitioners can learn, experiment, demonstrate and share knowledge around sustainable farming practices.
From Knowledge to Practice
The BSH Demonstration Farm brings together practical learning around key areas including:
- Soil health and fertility management
- Composting and locally produced bio-inputs
- Responsible and efficient fertilizer use
- Water conservation and climate-resilient farming
- Regenerative agriculture
- Farmer-led experimentation and innovation
- Sustainable livelihoods and resource efficiency
A central principle of the facility is that agricultural knowledge should not remain theoretical. Farmers should have opportunities to see practices demonstrated, test them under local conditions, observe the results and adapt them to their own farms.
Farmers at the Centre of Innovation
The commissioning also showcased the work of farmers and BSH innovation groups who have been experimenting with practical approaches to soil health and sustainable farming.
GAERS believes that farmers are not simply recipients of agricultural knowledge—they are innovators and active participants in the learning process.
The Demonstration Farm therefore provides space for farmers to document their experiences, share lessons with peers and examine both successful and unsuccessful experiments.
Connecting Digital and Physical Extension
The facility builds on GAERS' experience using WhatsApp-based advisory, online training, videos and digital communication to connect farmers and extension actors.
GAERS' experience has shown that technology is most effective when combined with human interaction and practical demonstration. The new facility therefore provides a physical centre where digital advisory can be complemented by hands-on learning, peer exchange, community facilitation and field experimentation.
Strengthening Partnerships
GAERS acknowledges the support and collaboration of the Sokoto State Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and ADP, whose engagement is essential to strengthening agricultural extension and farmer support systems in the state.
The organisation also looks forward to strengthening collaboration with Usmanu Danfodiyo University and other research and technical institutions, creating opportunities for applied research, student engagement and stronger connections between scientific knowledge and farmer practice.
Farmer organisations, including AFAN, SWOFON and NOPPMAN, also have an important role to play in ensuring that the facility remains connected to the realities and priorities of farming communities.
What Lies Ahead: Standardizing Impact
The commissioning is not the conclusion of the Building Soil Health Programme. It marks the beginning of the next phase of the facility's development.
GAERS aims to keep the Demonstration Farm active as a platform for continuous farmer learning, innovation, research, extension and collaboration.
Lessons generated through the facility will be documented and used to inform future farmer programmes and, where appropriate, adapted for use in other farming communities.
For GAERS, scaling is not simply about reaching more people. It is about extending useful knowledge, practical innovations and farmer-centred support while preserving local relevance, trust and farmer participation.
The organisation's long-term ambition is to contribute to a stronger agricultural learning ecosystem in which farmers, government, researchers, extension actors, private-sector partners and development organisations work together to develop practical solutions for resilient and profitable agriculture.
Furthermore, GAERS is gradually aligning its Living Learning Laboratory operations with global FAO Farmer Field School (FFS) standards, incorporating dedicated gender experts to ensure inclusive, season-long learning for all farmer clusters
Building Healthier Soils. Empowering Farmers.
The GAERS Building Soil Health Demonstration Farm and Learning Facility represents a commitment to making agricultural knowledge more practical, accessible and locally relevant.
The work continues.
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