IAR Field Team Conducts Inspection Visit to Adopted Villages and Schools in Zaria

IAR Field Team Conducts Inspection Visit to Adopted Villages and Schools in Zaria

Training/Workshop
September 29, 2025

As part of its unwavering commitment to strengthening food security and empowering farming communities, the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, through its Adopted Villages and Schools Unit headed by Dr. Hannatu O. Yusuf, embarked on an inspection visit to farmers and schools within the Zaria area on Sunday, 28th September 2025.

The field visit, which forms part of IAR’s ongoing efforts to sustain agricultural productivity and ensure that farmers remain aligned with best practices, aimed at documenting field conditions, assessing safety measures, and conducting regulatory checks across adopted sites. The exercise also helped to monitor farmers’ adoption of improved crop varieties and their field performance in real-time.

The IAR delegation was led by staff from the Adopted Villages and Schools Unit, including Dr. Ahmed, Mal. Ibrahim Yahaya Makama, and Mal. Yakubu Adamu as well as Mal. Mustapha Yakubu from the Extension Services Unit, and Mal. Musa from the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.

During the visit, the team interacted with several farmers who expressed great satisfaction with the improved maize variety SAMMAZ 51, developed by IAR. They reported significant improvements in yield and adaptability compared to their previous local varieties.

Community leaders and farmers alike commended IAR for its continuous support and innovation. Alh. Nura Umar Balarabe, the Sarkin Dutsen Abba, noted the impressive adoption rate of SAMMAZ 51 and described it as “more suitable and acceptable to farmers both in terms of yield and performance.”

Other farmers, including Mal. Rufai Suwidi (Dutsen Abba), Mal. Halilu Abubakar (Dutsen Abba), Mal. Umar Dan Asabe (Yakasai), Mal. Ahmadu Musa (Marwa), Mal. Ishaq Aliyu (Marwa), Mal. Idris Habibu (Marwa), Mal. Ismail Abbas (Dakace), and Mal. Mahmud Suleiman Ahmed (Samaru), all shared their appreciation and satisfaction, highlighting how the variety has transformed their farming experience.

Through such regular field visits, IAR continues to bridge the gap between agricultural research and field application — ensuring that improved technologies reach farmers and are effectively utilized for enhanced productivity and sustainable livelihoods.