Jigawa State Government says over 60% of farmers in the state are not using improved seedlings in their farming activities.
The Technical Adviser on Agriculture to the state Governor, Dr. Saifullahi Umar disclosed this while speaking at a two day capacity building to supervisors of Rice millionaires programme in JARDA Dutse, the Jigawa state capital.
According to him, there is need to fill wide gaps of unavailability of improved seedlings farmers are going through for many years.
Dr. Saifullahi Umar further explained that, 35 to 50% of yield depends on the quality of the seed used by a farmer.
“Most of our farmers have been getting less or no profits because of the seeds they used in their farms”
“For example, Millet in Jigawa we need at least no fewer than 2000 ton of improved seedlings for our wet season farming ”
“this is the same in almost all the crops sorghum, maize, wheat and rice and others, we lacked early generation seedlings, like breeder seeds, foundation seeds.
He said the Rice millionaires programme was aimed at changing youth perspectives from traditional mode of farming to farming as business.
He added that the programme will also help in providing enough improved rice seedlings to farmers that will boost their yield.
The technical adviser therefore, urged the participants to used the knowledge they acquired wisely and step it down to farmers at the grassroots.
He also reiterated the Jigawa state government’s commitment to improving agriculture across the state for food security and improve the economy of the state.
COV/USMAN MZ
