Dry season farmers seek government support

A farmer in Tigno in Lamurde Local Government area, Alhaji Abdu Usman, commended Federal Government for introducing the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), saying the programme has made fertiliser more accessible for small farmers.He, however, indicated that for the country to be able to feed its growing population, government must take a holistic approach towards agricultural […]

A farmer in Tigno in Lamurde Local Government area, Alhaji Abdu Usman, commended Federal Government for introducing the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), saying the programme has made fertiliser more accessible for small farmers.
He, however, indicated that for the country to be able to feed its growing population, government must take a holistic approach towards agricultural development. He said farmers needed access to capital, modern tools and technical know-how to achieve optimum yield.
A female farmer in Tigno, Mrs. Sadom Tayede Daniel appealed to governments, at all levels, to support dry season farmers with soft loans to enable them prosper in their trade.
She indicated that for the irrigation sites in the state to attain their full potential, farmers must gain access to adequate inputs and implements.
Mr Hoseye Malafa, a rice farmer in Zegun in Lamorde Local Government Area, said he cultivates his farm during the dry season in order to help fight poverty in his locality, saying several young people work in his farm.
He decried lack of water pumps and fertiliSer, calling on government to supply more to meet the demands of the farmers in Adamawa.
Alhaji Audu cultivates 500 hectares of rice; Mrs Tayede Daniel cultivates over 10 hectares both in Tigno, while Hoseye Malafa has 45 hectares in Zegun.
The Federal Director of Agriculture, Dr. Walia Hamman told Daily Trust that the ministry of agriculture was committed to improving agricultural production in the country.
He said a total of 15,403 farmers were registered under GES programme this year and 12,349 farmers, so far, benefitted.
He said each farmer got 25 kilogrammes of rice free and three bags of fertiliser at the cost of N8, 250, adding farmers have never had it so good.
“We distributed free seeds  and gave 50% subsidy on fertiliser; two bags of NPK and one bag of urea for rice; two bags of urea and one bag of NPK for maize”, the Federal Director of Agriculture stated.
He said the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority (UBRBDA) would assist dry season farmers at Gerio Lake with canals and water pumping machines at subsidised prices.