Expert tasks farmers to plant quality seeds for good harvest
Story from Usman IBRAHIM, Yola
Mr Prakash Silwal, the chief party of Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agricultural Activity has advised farmers in Adamawa State to plant quality and improved seeds to have a bumper harvest at the end of the season.
Silwal gave the advice at the two-day agricultural fair in Yola, Adamawa State.
The Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity was awarded by USAID Nigeria to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partner as part of USAID’s contributions to the economic recovery in North-East Nigeria in the wake of the devastation caused by the insurgency in the region.
The activity supports vulnerable populations disenfranchised by the conflict and seeks to re-engage them in basic farming activities.
The chief party said they trained no fewer than 30,000 farmers on various agricultural training and modern farming techniques in Adamawa and the inputs displayed at the fair are of a high quality, accessible and affordable.
He noted that the inputs fair is an opportunity for producers of various crops, seeds, and food among others to sell their products.
In his remarks, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri represented by his Deputy Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, appreciated the conveners of the programme and partners.
The governor expressed his administration’s readiness in partnering with any government and non-governmental organisations ready to contribute to transforming agriculture and all other sections of human endeavour in the state.
He encouraged farmers to ensure they planted satisfied seeds and said seed is pivotal in agriculture, emphasising that germination of seed will be determined by the quality of seed.
Fintiri tasked partners to devise means of providing farmers with good natural fertilizers to protect the crops and the health of farmers as well as the entire citizens against the negative effect of chemical fertilizers.
Mrs Dorathy Augustine, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Agriculture emphasised that the initiative has impacted positively on the output of agricultural production in Adamawa.
She said the improvement was made possible with the awareness raised among farmers on the importance of quality and improved seed production.
Cross section of the beneficiaries testified that the knowledge of modern farming techniques and the improved seeds has boosted their agricultural activities.
