Smallholder farmers embrace modern techniques in Niger
By Rita Iliya
No fewer than 300,000 smallholder farmers have embraced modern techniques of farming to improve crop yield in Niger state.
Dr Godwin Atser, the Country Director, Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, said this during a mega field day with farmers in Kampala community of Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
Atser, represented by Dr Abdulhamid Gambo, Deputy Country Director, said the organisation was working to support smallholder farmers in value chain crops in 17 local government areas in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention was under Agra-Niger State Consortium Project.
It is tagged “Improving Farmers Resilience and Upscaling Productivity Incomes and Livelihood in Rice, Maize, Soyabean, Cowpea, Onion value chains”.
Atser said farmers were trained on modern method of farming such as use of good quality seeds, spacing and fertiliser application.
“The impact record is impressive as farmers production per hectare have trippled in all value chains with increased income,” he said.
He added that farmers have also been introduced to simple mechanisation like use of planter, fertiliser applicator and other modern tools which were more effective.
Also Dr Dogara Danbaba, Zonal Coordinator of Agra Consortium Project, said the use of modern techniques by farmers had increased their production and income.
He said smallholder farmers now get 6.5 to 7 tons yield output from rice unlike in the past where they only get 2 to 3 tonnes per hactare.
Danbaba also said that maize output had increased to 3 to 3.5 tonnes compared to the scarce 2 tons they get in the past.
Abdullahi Musa, a maize farmer, said he had recorded bumper harvest using the modern method of spacing in making ridges, planting of crops and fertiliser application.
“For yield crops, ensure 75 centimeters in making ridges, 25 centimetres spacing in planting crops.
“Apply fertiliser 14 days after planting, do not throw it like the old method instead, dig holes inbetween four crops and bury it underground,” he said.
The village Head of Kampala, Alhaji Adamu Zakari, appreciated Sasakawa and Agra-Niger for the intervention and linking smallholder farmers to financial institutions. (NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
Published By
-
Deputy Editor in Chief,
Multimedia, Solutions Journalism & Website.
Has also recently published
Economy/BusinessNovember 22, 2024Flagship Trust Fund appoints new BOT Chairman
General NewsNovember 22, 2024Ex-NBA chair urges Nigerian leaders to complement human capabilities, technology 
ForeignNovember 21, 2024ECOWAS tasks subregional entrepreneurs on trade growth
General NewsNovember 21, 2024Imo students receive bank’s educational materials donation
