Improving rural agriculture, greatest joy for farmers – Architect turned farmer, Dansadau

Abubakar Saidu Dansadau is an agriculture expert from Zamfara state. He read Architecture at Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil but fell in love with agriculture after his NYSC Service in 2009. He shared his thoughts in this interview on the efforts to wipe off hunger from Africa with his NGO, Hunger Free Africa Initiative.

Iobserved you are practicing architecture. Why is it so? I have been working with Maslaha Seeds Ltd, one of the largest seed companies in Nigeria and indeed Africa. Virtually all of my experience is in Marketing in Agric which involves dealing with farmers directly and indirectly. Having understood the entire value chain of crop farming and it challenges, that led me to establish Hunger Free Africa Initiative in 2018 with the goal to support clause 2 of Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger, specifically in Africa.

Can you speak more on the motive behind Hunger Free Africa Initiative?

Alhamdullilah, I was opportuned to be born with a silver spoon, but working directly with farmers, I came to realize how poor some people are, to the extent they hardly could have a meal per day, it surprised me and I said, I must come to their aid. This prompted me to conduct a research of possible ways I could solve this problem, from my research the result showed that most of these rural dwellers are farmers and farming remains their major source of income, improving their yield will be the greatest joy of their lives.

Despite governments’ programmes to help fight against poverty and hunger, it still persists and increasing rapidly. Globally 108 million people faced food crises in 2016, compared to about 80 million in 2015, an increase of 35 per cent according to 2017 global report on food crises.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that 233 million people in Sub Saharan Africa were hungry/under nourished in 2014-2016 out of 795 million people that were hungry worldwide.

Sub Saharan Africa was the second largest area with high number of hungry people in the world. Coming across this data, I had no option than to join other gallantry humanitarians to fight against poverty and hunger in Africa and it is indeed my great pleasure.

Could you describe a typical work day for you?

It all depends on the period in a year; I am very active during raining season starting from April till December working round the clock to ensure proper and efficient farm management that will lead to bumper harvest in my farms in Gusau and Dansadau. Then January – April I move round to train farmers on precision farming to help them build their capacity which majority lack.

What challenges do you face running this cause?

Getting the commitment of the people we are trying to help is a challenge. Sometimes one will feel why am I into this since the people affected are not mostly concerned? But the few among them most especially female and young farmers encourage me to continue, with the believe that there is hope in the future, people will certainly come to realize the need to produce at least what they will eat if not for commercial reasons.

Secondly, the area of funding our cause, it is sometimes difficult to get support on a new NGO, because most donors want three to five year work, before they can support. At this initial stage it is hectic but worth doing.

What projects are you working on?

Our project in Nigeria is: Hunger Free Nigeria by 2025. Through our strategy of training farmers, Agro– dealers, extension workers because building the capacity of these people will certainly improve and increase the food production in the country. We equally intend to bridge the gap between Agri Input producer, new technology and farmers via an annual event tagged “HUNGER FREE EXPO”. The essence is to avail farmers the needed information at an appropriate time.

What is your current membership strength?

As we are just starting our number is not more than 30 as volunteers and we hope to rise to at least to a million in Nigeria before 2023.

What are your plans for expansion in few years?

After 2025 we will be moving to other countries in sub-Sahara Africa to continue the course.

What is your advice to youth, many of who are still unemployed?

They should join agriculture now, is the direction of the world’s economy. Stop complaining about government, be the captain of your life now.