By Abdullahi Jalalludeen
A Chinese agricultural investment company, Smartisan Investment Nigeria Limited, has unveiled a new chemical-spraying technology designed to boost crop yield and cut production costs for farmers in Kano State.
The technology, demonstrated on Thursday in Kura Local Government Area, replaces the conventional manual method of spraying chemicals and fertilizers on farmlands. Company representative Charles Lee said the device—popularly called agricultural spraying drums—was built to ease farmers’ workload and improve efficiency.
Lee, who has lived in Nigeria for 16 years, explained that the machine can complete the work of about 40 labourers in a single day, enabling farmers to spray large farmlands within hours. He noted that many farmers suffer heavy losses during pest outbreaks due to delays associated with manual spraying.
He said the technology makes it possible to cover 10 hectares in one day, ensuring faster response during emergencies when pest invasions can destroy up to 50 percent of crops if not tackled early.
The company said the spraying system, already in use in China, Kenya and Mozambique, has helped increase farmers’ harvests by between 15 and 20 percent. The device breaks chemicals into ultra-fine particles of about 10 micrometres, enabling deeper penetration and full coverage of plant leaves.
Lee also said the system reduces chemical consumption by up to 40 percent, cutting production costs and minimizing environmental impact. He apologized for the late start of the event, saying logistical delays affected the schedule.
Chairman of the Kura Local Government Farmers’ Association, Usman Abdulmalik Abubakar Matawallen Kura, described the innovation as timely, saying rising labour costs and frequent pest attacks have made farming more challenging. He urged government agencies and agricultural development partners to assist farmers in acquiring the technology.
Some farmers who witnessed the demonstration expressed optimism about the device. They appealed to Smartisan Investment Nigeria Limited to work with local cooperatives to create flexible payment plans to ensure small holder farmers can access the equipment.
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