NADP takes delivery of improved seeds for Nasarawa farmers

Soon, the seeds will find their way into the barns of 85 key farmers identified to serve as models for the production in the next cropping season. The agency took delivery of the new seeds in the two categories of foundation, and certified, with two different varieties for maize, and rice. Maize has SAMMAZ-15 in […]

Soon, the seeds will find their way into the barns of 85 key farmers identified to serve as models for the production in the next cropping season.
The agency took delivery of the new seeds in the two categories of foundation, and certified, with two different varieties for maize, and rice.
Maize has SAMMAZ-15 in certified and DMR-Y in foundation, while rice has FARO44 in both foundation and certified, according to Benjamin Yusuf, the acting director, technical services of NADP, who conducted Daily Trust to the stores.
Yusuf, who is also the desk officer of WAAPP in the state, explained that foundation feeds were seeds that have not been put into production their development by research institutes, while certified seeds were those that have been put into production by farmers, and certified for onward distribution to other farmers for improved productivity.
He said: “Our farmers have had to rely on self (traditional) seeds, over time. The varieties from WAAPP will address their problems of low productivity.”
He said that 1.5mts of foundation variety for maize, and 6mts of the certified were taken stock of, while rice came in 6.5mts.
Model farming
Yusuf said: “We have already identified key farmers. We will distribute the varieties to them for mass production with close monitoring from us. They will serve as model farmers for one cropping season, during which they are required to generate seeds for other farmers around their communities for the next cropping season.”
In all, there are 85 farmers carefully selected because of their commitment and the availability of land.
Out of this number, 75 would cultivate maize, while 10 farmers would produce rice in the state.
“Each of the selected farmers will get about 20kgs of each variety and, depending on their commitment and land available to them, the key farmers could go home with more than the minimum quantity. The aim is to produce the good seed in a quantity that will go round the state, to phase out the self seeds.”
He said 20kgs of the new seeds will go into production on one hectare.
Yusuf said after harvest, the key farmers would not consume or sell their yields, adding that they would be required to generate 50kgs each to farmers around their communities, with the supervision of NADP.
“That way, we are certain these new seeds will go round the state, for onward production by our farmers. And this system will continue until we are certain that the self seeds are all phased out completely.”
Period of maturity
The three varieties have short period of maturity, which is three months each, said the officer, adding: “WAAPP developed these short duration varieties because of the climatic condition of this parts of the country-North-central Zone.”
He said the Programme Manager of NADP, Mr. Steven G. Kpama, would start the distribution of these varieties to the model farmers soon.