Umar Hussain, a 42-year-old farmer and technician from Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria, embodies resilience and determination for farming. Despite a lack of formal education, Umar’s thirst for knowledge led him to earn solar and electrical certifications, skills he has creatively applied to his farming practices.
Umar’s journey into farming began at the age of 18, when he worked alongside his father cultivating cereal crops. Over the years, his curiosity about productivity-enhancing agricultural methods grew, leading him to explore a HortiNigeria demonstration plot showcasing improved tomato farming practices in 2021. Interested in gaining more knowledge, Umar immersed himself in HortiNigeria’s training sessions, mastering techniques such as creating raised beds, precision spacing during transplanting, and trellising.
In recognition of his dedication and potential, HortiNigeria selected Umar as a key farmer in 2022. He was entrusted with managing a tomato demonstration plot and tasked with educating others in his community. Since then, Umar has trained many farmers, including women and youth, equipping them with practical skills to improve their productivity and income.
“Umar’s guidance helped me increase my yield and income. His dedication inspires us all.”
Maniru Badamai, Trained Farmer
Umar’s farm quickly became a hub of learning, regularly drawing visitors, including farmers from neighboring villages such as Angwan Maniki and Rimin Gawro. His expertise gained broader recognition in 2023 when the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands visited his farm to see the impact of the HortiNigeria program.
Building on his success, Umar introduced a drip irrigation system on his farm, an upgrade from the manual watering method he had previously employed. This technology increased his farm’s efficiency, allowing him to expand his output. His first tomato harvest of more than 200 crates yielded a profit of over 500,000 naira.
In 2024, Umar was chosen to be a Community Field Agent with HortiNigeria to provide extension advisory and aggregation services to farmers, linking them to markets and processors within his cluster. He has provided advisory services to more than 100 farmers in his community, helping them learn techniques such as integrated pest management, mulching, and trellising. A farmer Umar mentored, Maniru Badamai, stated, “Umar’s guidance helped me increase my yield and income. His dedication inspires us all.”
Umar’s achievements have had a profound impact on his family. His increased income allowed him to enroll his children in a good school in his community. “Seeing my children access opportunities I never had motivates me to keep pushing forward,” Umar shared.
With his profits, Umar also purchased a vehicle, improving his ability to manage his farm and conduct community outreach. His role as both a farmer and a Community Field Agent reflects his vision for the future: a thriving sector where knowledge-sharing on improved agricultural practices drives sustainable growth.
From a small-scale cereal farmer to a change agent, Umar has become a catalyst for transformation, inspiring his community to embrace innovation and achieve their full potential.
The HortiNigeria program (2021-2025), funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, aims to facilitate the development of a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector that contributes to food and nutrition security in Nigeria. HortiNigeria is led by IFDC and implemented together with KIT, Wageningen University and Research, and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation.
