NAN-AE-4
Beneficiaries
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Dec. 28, 2017 (NAN) The Climate Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP), a programme of International Food and Agriculture Development (IFAD), has called on its beneficiaries to plant quality seeds to boost their yield.
The Communication Officer of IFAD-CASP, Mr Abdullahi Surajo, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Surajo said that IFAD-CASP had been mobilising farmers in its beneficiary communities to plant good-quality seeds to improve their productivity.
“We have mandated all the facilitators at our end-of-the-year training, which was organised recently; to always educate farmers on the benefits of using high-quality seeds in their cultivation.
“We always advise the rice farmers under our programme to use high-yield seeds like Faro 58 and Faro 59 rice varieties in upland areas.
“For the rice to be ready for harvest, it takes about 80 to 85days; and on one hectare, a farmer can get up to 50 bags of rice.
“We assist the farmers to produce high-quality crops and link them with off-takers. There are lots of off-takers and we sell ourselves everywhere we go,’’ he said.
Surajo said that the new IFAD programme was aimed improving agricultural production, with tangible emphasis on commercial agriculture involving crops like rice, sorghum and cowpea.
He said that IFAD-CASP, in collaboration with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), would continue to make quality seeds available to farmers so as to boost the country’s food security.
Surajo expressed happiness over the feats recorded by the programme and said that the programme would soon be extended to cover more states.
“We have achieved a lot in respect of cowpea and sorghum seeds planted in our various demonstration plots across the states.
“We also support our farmers with chemicals, fertilisers and agronomy services.
“I urge farmers to always work hand-in-hand with extension officers under the programme for proper guidance,’’ he said.
Surajo said that IFAD-CASP beneficiaries were now able to perceive the difference between quality seeds and sub-standard seeds, adding that they were also ready to work with extension workers to improve on their crop growing.
NAN reports that the development objectives of IFAD-CASP include increased incomes, enhanced food security and reduced vulnerability of smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, in the participating states.
Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states are participating in the six-year programme, which started in 2015. (NAN)
ROK/AAB/OOK
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Edited by Adeboye Ajayi and Dayo Komolafe