Some farmers in Kano have commended the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) for viable interventions to encourage agricultural productivity and boost food security.
They also lauded the association for extension services and provision of inputs to the farmers as well as introduction of modern farming techniques in the state.
The association is providing agricultural interventions through the Kano State Agro Pastrol Development Programme (KSADP).
KSADP is being implemented with support of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Lives and livelihood Fund (LLF).
A cross section of the farmers, made the commendation during a farmer sensitisation exercise on Friday in DawakinnTofa Local Government Area of the state.
A rice grower, Yahaya Isa said the support by the association exposed farmers to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), build their enterprising skills and encourage productivity.
He said the association distributed inputs, chemicals and processing equipment such de-stoner machines to farmer groups.
“The de-stoner machine is used in rice processing to remove stones and other unwanted particles”.
Isa said the association assisted farmers to set up a rice mill in the area, adding that the gesture encouraged many farmers to embrace rice cultivation.
He urged the association to provide fertilisers at subsidised rate to encourage paddy cultivation in commercial quantity.
“I harvested 20 bags of rice annually but with improved access to fertilisers, I’ll produce more,” he said.
Also; Musa Haladu, a farmer in Shanono LGA, said that farmers in the area through Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) cultivated over 300 hectares of rice during wet season.
He said they were expected to produce about five tonnes per hectre.
“We are expecting to produce between 4 – 6 tonnes at harvest.
“We will cultivate more if fertiliser and other inputs are available to farmers at government control price,” he said.
The association, he said, also trained farmers on proper application of fertilisers which increased yields per hectre.
For his part, Abdulsami Mohammed called for rehabilitation of Kurnawa Dam in Dawakin Tofa LGA, to enhance water supply to the community and encourage irrigation activities,
He said the rehabilitation of the dam would encourage crop production, provide livelihood for farmers and check rural – urban drift.
The Project Coordinator, SSA, Abdulrashid Komar-Mata urged farmers to embrace the new farming techniques to accelerate paddy rice production in the state.
Kofar – Mata, who interected with farmers at Shanono, Dawakin Tofa and Ungogo, said the visit was part of the ongoing annual community entry, mobilisation and sensitisation of farmers and community leaders.
This, he said, would scale up crop component of the project in the participating states across the country. (NAN)
