Agriculture
SOME farmers in Bauchi State have commended the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) over its wheat development programme aimed at accelerating production in the country.
FMAN is consortium of flour millers working to encourage wheat value chain through research, extension services, enhancing farmer access to inputs and agricultural financing.
The association is supporting about 1,000 wheat farmers in seven local government areas of Bauchi State.
They include Bauchi, Jama’are, Misau, Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Shira and Katagum.
A cross section of the farmers made the commendation on Tuesday during the Wheat Farmers’ Green Field Day at Jogale plantation in Jama’are LGA.
Hajiya Rakiya Abubakar, a woman farmer, said that she cultivated one hectre of farmland with support of the association.
She said that she received fertilisers, seeds and chemicals which enabled her to increase productivity.
Also, Ahmed Haladu, said the intervention by the association encouraged many farmers to go into wheat cultivation.
He said that farmers were being exposed to new farming techniques and Good Agricultural Practices to boost their production output.
“I cultivated my farmlands using new farming techniques introduced by FMAN.
“The support enabled us to produce over 40 bags as against 15 bags per hectre.
“I am anticipating bumper harvest this season,” he said.
Another farmer, Dauda Ahmed, urged FMAN to review prices of wheat grain to enable farmers to repay their loans.
He said that low price of the produce was a major challenge militating against sustainable growth in wheat cultivation.
Corroborating Ahmed, a community leader, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo said that upward review of the prices would protect farmers from losses in view of the high cost of inputs.
Sabo also urged the association to expand the scope of its intervention to mobilise participation in the programme.
Earlier, the National Programme Manager of FMAN, Dr Aliyu Sama’ila said the association planned to support 50,000 wheat growers to cultivate 4,000 hectres of farmlands in 2023 across Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara, and Yobe.
According to him, the aim is to provide market for farmers by expanding procurement through additional aggregation staff and warehouse capacity to off-take the grain across 13 wheat producing states.
“To sustainably expand wheat production in the country, we must increase farmer yields, to make it competitive with rice and other dry season crops.
“Our development programme for 2022-23 season included cultivation of 114 hectare demonstration farms across six northern states.
“Train farmers on Good Agronomic Practices in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe.
“Expansion of FMAN’s direct out-grower programme with input loans to cover 4,300 farmers, to cultivate 3,900 hectares in Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Bauchi and Zamfara.
“Expansion of seed production with six certified companies to produce sufficient seeds for 10,000 hectares next season.
“Research trials on FMAN’s 10-hectare research farm in Jigawa for testing new seed varieties and improved agronomic practices, including collaboration with Lake Chad Research Institute, CIMMYT and ICARDA,” he said.
The programme manager said the association would provide grant for National Agricultural Seeds Council to expand their capabilities to test seed quality, certify seed production and train farmers to differentiate high-quality seed.
He said the association in collaboration with an IT firm, SourceTrace, introduced a data management application for proper data collection and management of field activities.
According to him, transforming wheat production in Nigeria requires a strong vision backed by clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.
He reiterated commitment to partner with organisations across the value chain to improve farmer yields through high quality seeds, expanded extension services, and improved access to irrigation based on sound data and evidence. (NAN)
E.C
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