‘Crop domestication is succeeding’

Most crops and fruits hitherto thought can only be produced abroad or in Southern Nigeria can be grown in most parts of the North. In fact, their production can be boosted in the North especially when experts are consulted to assist in the choice of soil and hybrid seeds of the selected crop, a fruit […]

Most crops and fruits hitherto thought can only be produced abroad or in Southern Nigeria can be grown in most parts of the North.
In fact, their production can be boosted in the North especially when experts are consulted to assist in the choice of soil and hybrid seeds of the selected crop, a fruit farmer that relocated from Edo to Zamfara State has said.
Malam Musa Kilo, who was producing pineapple, oranges and pear at a farmland near Ehor in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State before he decided to relocate to Zamfara State, said he was getting set to commence cultivation of those fruits in Zamfara very soon.
“I have been a farmer in Delta and later Edo states for 17 years. I decided to relocate from Edo back to my state of origin, Zamfara, because I am getting old and my family is expanding. My major concern when I was leaving Edo was the fear that pineapple, pear and oranges that I am used to may not grow here in Zamfara. I have not seen anybody grow them here.
“When I came to Zamfara 2 years ago, I embarked on maize farming. There is no money in maize farming like fruits. I was worried, I did not know what to do. Suddenly, I decided to plant some pineapples, egusi, banana and plantain at a small piece of land in my farm. I have just harvested the pineapples. The banana and plantain are growing fast.
“I am now planning to acquire more land and add to my maize farm and embark on only fruits production. From Maradun to Mafara up to Bakura I am not aware of any fruits farmer. I do not like competition before. Fruits production requires a lot of care and patience. Animals must not pass through pineapple farm.”
Kilo, who said he has never benefited from any form of government support throughout his 17 years of agricultural production in the South, said he did not require any loan from bank or government.
“I have brought the type of seed that produces very sweet pineapple. When I harvest my pineapple fresh from the farm and I am able to distribute to Funtua in Katsina State, Gusau, Sokoto and other neighbouring towns and the consumers and marketers realised how sweet my pineapple is and is fresh from the farm that is all. I have established a market I can feed on.”
But the farmers youth leader in the area, Muhammadu Bello, said there were many people from the state farming different crops in the South that would have loved to return to the North with different ideas on farming but they were not sure of getting any form of support from government.
“The two bags of fertiliser we access through the GES arrangement is not meant to enhance farming activities at all. That is the reason why you discover that the first batch that registered and started collecting the two bags are still on the list because they have not grown beyond the two bags. People say it is the peasant farmers that are feeding the nation, I disagree with that. With two bags of fertiliser you cannot produce more than what will feed two adults in a year. How then can you feed others?
“If government wants to enhance farming production in this country, they can do it successfully. We have fertile land, good weather and enough water for wet and irrigation farming. All that the farmers of this country require is good agricultural policy that will let us have unhindered access to farming inputs funds and markets for our crops.     
“Where can you go and get these things in place? Every state you go to in the North you will discover that over 80 percent of the entire population of the state is made of farmers. But neither the federal nor the state government is doing anything reasonable to promote farming from subsistence to business. That is why we are now mobilising farmers all over the country to ensure that only politicians with workable agricultural policies are elected to key positions like council chairmen, governors and the president.”