GAERS Demonstration Farm & Training Hall, Sokoto State Global Agricultural Extension and Rural Services (GAERS) successfully conducted a 2-day Post-Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop on 22nd and 23rd April 2026, marking an important transition from virtual learning to practical field implementation under the Building Soil Health (BSH) Programme – Phase II. The workshop brought together ToT participants, GAERS team members, and selected stakeholders to review lessons from the earlier online training sessions and prepare for the next phase of on-ground action.
Key Highlights of the Workshop Over the two days, participants engaged in:
- Review of major lessons from the virtual ToT sessions
- Practical discussions on regenerative agriculture innovations introduced by international facilitators
- Formation of innovation working groups
- Orientation on monitoring and reporting tools
- Initial field demarcation and preparation of trial plots at the GAERS demonstration farm
- Planning for farmer-level knowledge transfer and community outreach
Innovation Areas Covered
Participants were organized into working groups focused on:
- Soil Fertility & Bio-Inputs – composting, microbial fertilizers, natural soil improvement
- Water Efficiency – Root Feast Method (RFM), moisture conservation, mulching
- Natural Farming Systems – soil biology, reduced chemical dependence, regenerative practices
- Farmer Knowledge Transfer – farmer training methods, local language extension, demonstration approaches
A Milestone for GAERS
The event also marked the first official use of the GAERS Training Hall and Demonstration Farm facilities as a functional learning and implementation hub for farmers, extension actors, and innovation partners.
Next Steps
Following the workshop, GAERS will move into the field implementation phase, including:
- Final allocation of trial plots
- Soil sampling and baseline observations
- Weekly monitoring by participant groups
- Testing of selected crops and tree systems suited to Sokoto conditions
- Documentation of results for future farmer scaling and partnerships
Looking Ahead
This workshop represents another major step in GAERS’ mission to combine practical knowledge, local innovation, and farmer-centered learning systems to strengthen soil health, productivity, and resilience in Northern Nigeria.
GAERS – Empowering Farmers • Strengthening Food Systems