A Uganda agroecology consultant, Samuel Kabuya and lead trainer, has urged Nigerian farmers to involve their children in farming in order to have a great nation.
He disclosed this during a one day agroecology practical training held on Monday, December 1, 2025, for over 100 farmers by the Lekeh Development Foundation, in Bori, Khana local government area of the State with the theme “Enhancing Soil Health for Climate Action Toward Sustainable Livelihood Support.”
The training impacted hundreds of Ogoni farmers of using indigenous micro-organic fertilizers to grow crops as part of efforts to promote agroecology and restore degraded soils in the region.
According to him, farming is the essential part of every nation as no one survives without food. He explained that greater children makes greater farmers.
Kabuya emphasised that the initiative of training Ogoni farmers on natural production of fertilizer and manure aims to drastically reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which contribute to soil degradation, cancers and other health challenges.
“We are not sabotaging businesses, but we need healthy people for a greater nation. Chemicals are destroying our soils and our bodies. Through this practical training, farmers can now produce their own fertilizers and pesticides at zero percent chemical use,” Kabuya stated.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Lekeh Development Foundation, Friday Nbani, said the training equips Ogoni farmers with natural methods of producing fertilizers and pesticides, reducing their dependence on harmful chemical inputs.
He noted that decades of oil spills and environmental pollution have left Ogoni soils in crisis, adding that agroecology offers real solutions to soil fertility loss, climate change, and declining food production.
“For more than three decades, our soil has suffered from oil extraction, spillage and contamination. Farmers have been neglected. Agroecology is key to restoring soil health and addressing climate challenges,” Nbani said.
He explained that farmers were taught how to produce ash-based pesticides and indigenous microorganisms (IMO) using simple locally available materials such as rice, ash, soap and pepper. These organic inputs, he said, boost soil fertility without harming humans, animals, or beneficial organisms.
Nbani added that the training includes a Train-the-Trainer (ToT) model across 16 community chapters in Ogoniland, enabling participants to step down the knowledge to thousands of other farmers.
Farmer participants described the training as transformative.
Justina Gbarakoro said she learned multiple indigenous methods of producing manure and pesticides, which she hopes to teach other women.
“With this training, I believe we will grow healthier food and reduce the diseases caused by chemical fertilizers,” she said.
Another participant, Sunday Akerebari from Dogbam, said the programme will help eliminate waste, promote environmental cleanliness and enable farmers to farm without purchasing chemical inputs.
