In the vibrant community of Garin Ali Village in Garko Local Government Area, Kano State, Kubura Hassan’s story unfolds. Kubura, a 35-year-old mother and teacher, began her farming journey six years ago, inspired by the rich agricultural knowledge she learned from her husband.
Kubura’s journey, however, was not without its hurdles, as she faced high costs and distant irrigation sources. Fortunately, these challenges did not hinder her dream of scaling her farming practices into a thriving business. Kubura’s hopes were ignited when the HortiNigeria program introduced her women’s group, Nagarta Manoman Mata Garin Ali, to solar-powered irrigation pumps.
These irrigation pumps symbolize a leap into clean energy, dramatically cutting costs on fuel and enabling Kubura and her fellow farmers to efficiently manage their time and resources.
Before HortiNigeria’s intervention, solar irrigation was a foreign concept to Kubura. She, along with her women’s group, had little knowledge of the technology or its benefits. Thankfully, through training provided by HortiNigeria, Kubura discovered that the advantages of solar irrigation extended far beyond easy access to water. It also promised a cleaner, healthier environment for her family and the entire community.
With great hope and the power of sustainable technology at her fingertips, Kubura has now set her sights on an ambitious new venture: tomato seedling production. This next step in her journey is not only a stride toward enhancing her productivity and income, but also a testament to her resilient spirit and an inspiration to her community and beyond. Kubura’s story is more than a narrative of personal success; it is a shining example of how embracing innovation can lead to a brighter, more sustainable future.
HortiNigeria (2021-2025) is implemented through a consortium led by IFDC that includes East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), and KIT Royal Tropical Institute and is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria.
