NGO To Provide More Interventions To farmers on Irrigation farming.
By Mala Abdulazeez.
Farmers in Yobe State have declared more intention to venture into irrigation farming in the state.
This according to them would boost their capacity and will also provide food security in the country.
The district head of Ghadaka, Alh. Abdullahi Ghadaka, made this known when a delegation from Feed the Future, United States Agency for International Development USAID funded Project, and implemented by Integrated Agricultural Activity IAA and International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics ICRISAT, paid a follow up visit to the farmers.
He said over 400 farmers who received the new variety of crops from the NGO’s, appreciated the seeds distributed to them, which was completely different from their old crops.
Ghadaka called on government, the organizations, developmental partners and other wealthy individuals, to invest more on agriculture, towards the provision of fertilizers and other farming equipments, at a subsidized rate to farmers.
He also explained that the community based seeds production has trained some of the farmers on application of fertilizer and pests control.
Country Representative of ICRISAT Dr Angarawai Ignitius, represented by Mr Jerom Jonah emphasized on the need to use climate smart crops which are resistant to pest, diseases, early maturing and rain shortage, to reduce the risk of hunger and food shortage.
Mr Jerom called on the farmers to always observe their farm lands, and also follow all the procedure involved before and after planting their seeds.
Early in his remarks, the team lead of the implemention partners, Mr Joseph Abikoye, of the Integrated Agriculture Activity IAA, said the community based seeds production has provided seven varieties of crops to seeds producers in Adamawa and Borno.
The program tagged “Green Field Day” visited farms in Potiskum, Fika and Nangere Local government Areas, where four crop including Rice Millet, Cowpea and Sorghum were distributed to the farmers and had interacted with all farmers for additional areas of intervention.
Seed distributed included Sorghum, soya beans, millet, rice, maize, cowpea and groundnut in Adamawa and Borno States in 2019, and was later extended to Yobe in 2023.
