Katsina wheat farmers give reasons for low yields

Late planting, usually occasioned by absence of improved seeds, has been identified as one of the reasons wheat farmers in Katsina State do not get good yields from their farms. A renowned wheat farmer and ward head of Barebari community, Malam Safiyanu Rabi’u, told our reporter that many wheat farmers in the state usually plant […]

Late planting, usually occasioned by absence of improved seeds, has been identified as one of the reasons wheat farmers in Katsina State do not get good yields from their farms.

A renowned wheat farmer and ward head of Barebari community, Malam Safiyanu Rabi’u, told our reporter that many wheat farmers in the state usually plant the crop late, adding that the consequence was always poor harvest.

“There is always time for everything, and wheat farming also requires a stipulated time of planting but when farmers keep waiting for inputs for a long time, it adversely affects their harvest at the end,” he explained.

The ward head added that wheat farmers cannot rely on seeds from the open market because of their quality, forcing many of them to always wait for the ones promised by government, which often came late.

He also called on Katsina State government to invest in the provision of small irrigation dams particularly in the southern part of the state to boost agriculture.

 Our reporter learnt that insufficient irrigation sites, especially in the southern part of the state, is another reason the crop is not grown in commercial quantity in the area.

Malam Saminu Bala Sabon-gida told this reporter that irrigation farmers at Gwaigwaye dam have been left to the cultivation of tomato, onion, chilli and bell pepper as they were yet to access government intervention for wheat production.

“Many of us here are subsistence farmers and we cannot risk our little capital to invest in wheat production. We are yet to access the intervention which government pledged and that is why we resorted to the production of vegetables before it is too late,” he explained.

He added that wheat, unlike other crops, preferred the cold season which as humans, they cannot guarantee. But for Dalhatu Adamu Dukke, if government would timely fulfill its promise, production of wheat will go beyond subsistence level in the area.

“Last year, we wasted time waiting for inputs from government and when it was not forthcoming some of us invested the little we had to cultivate the crop. This year, Jammy Nagari Seeds Limited in partnership with Katsina State government, has provided us with wheat seeds which we had already planted and they promised to supply us with fertilizer, water pump machines and other inputs,” he said.

He further explained that timely distribution of the inputs to farmers and at subsidised rate remained the cornerstone of successful wheat production in the state.

“There is growing interest in irrigation farming in this part of the state and it is for government to double its effort in helping the teaming youth to unravel the opportunities therein. A 10kg of wheat seeds was supplied at N5,000 and they promised to give us water pump machines and fertilizer at N45,000 and N8,000 respectively,” Dalhatu Adamu stated.

When contacted on phone, the Managing Director of Jammy Nagari Seeds Limited, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, confirmed that some farmers were supplied with wheat seeds.

“Jammy Nagari Seeds is one of the off-takers in this year’s wheat farming billed to supply farmers with quality seeds through Sustainable Economic Development Programme in partnership with Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture. 

“There are others who will supply the farmers with chemicals, fertilizer and water pump machines but how long it will take depends on the approval of the state government and readiness of the companies chosen,’’ he said.