Bauchi Women Farmers Achieve Bumper Soybean Harvests with Modern Techniques

By Khalid Idris Doya

Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria

November 8, 2025(Series News Online)

Women farmers in Bauchi State have recorded significant gains in soybean production, thanks to a programme aimed at empowering them with modern farming techniques and improved nutrition knowledge.

The Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE), in collaboration with Seed Co Nigeria, has been working with women farmers in the state to promote quality soybean seed production, enhance their participation in agriculture, and improve household nutrition.

Speaking at the Mega Brown Soybean Field Day in Bauchi, John Agboola, Head of Marketing at Seed Co Nigeria, said, "This initiative began three to four months ago, targeting women farmers across Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, and other Northern Nigerian states. Through this project, women received improved soybean seeds and essential farming inputs to boost productivity."

Agboola explained that the programme goes beyond providing inputs, as farmers received extensive training in Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), equipping them with knowledge and skills from planting to harvest.

"After the training, the women applied these practices in their fields, with ongoing support from agronomic guidance and extension services. They learned proper fertilizer application, weeding, and field management to maximize yield," he said.

According to Agboola, the results have been impressive, with many women harvesting between 10 and 15 bags of soybeans on just one acre of land.

"This outcome not only boosts productivity but also enhances household nutrition and livelihoods," he said, adding that the initiative also teaches women how to process soybeans into soy milk, flour, and other nutritious products.

Helen S. Sarki Chiroma, Head of Women in Agriculture at BSADP, praised the CASCADE initiative, saying, "Soybean is a high-value crop with immense market potential, surpassing rice and maize in profitability. Industries use it for oil, animal feed, and poultry production. Beyond income, we encourage women to incorporate soybeans into their daily meals to improve household nutrition."

Beneficiaries, including Sadiya Haruna Mohammed and Hauwau Mohammed, expressed satisfaction with the programme, saying it had significantly increased their soybean production.

Agboola noted that the CASCADE project, sponsored by CARE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and in collaboration with Seed Co Nigeria, serves as a model for empowering women in agriculture, enhancing household nutrition, and promoting sustainable farming practices across Northern Nigeria.