Bush burning threatens sugarcane farming – Farmer

Alhaji Makarfi, a sugarcane farmer said in the recent past, about 20 to 30 trailer loads of sugarcane took off every day from Makarfi to places like Maiduguri, Yobe and sometimes across the border to places like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.He lamented that the story is not the same nowadays because they hardly load three […]

Alhaji Makarfi, a sugarcane farmer said in the recent past, about 20 to 30 trailer loads of sugarcane took off every day from Makarfi to places like Maiduguri, Yobe and sometimes across the border to places like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
He lamented that the story is not the same nowadays because they hardly load three trailers a day, adding, “this problem has also resulted in drastic drop in the price of sugarcane. Initially, we used to sell a bundle at between N1,000 and N1,500, but now it goes for about N400 to N500. Even at that rate the patronage is still very low.
“Bush burning is also a serious challenge to sugarcane farming in this area. Whenever it starts, it destroys farmlands. This is why we want to appeal to state and federal governments to construct a dam for us, as this would improve our activities.
“Government and individuals should also consider setting up sugar industry in Makarfi local government as that too will boost sugarcane farming,” he said.