Our challenges are increasing – Maize farmers

Maize farmers in the FCT and its environs have lamented that the failure of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) of the federal government has increased the challenges they have been facing over the years. Speaking to our reporter in separate interviews, the farmers said non-distribution of subsidised fertilizer and seeds by the federal government […]

Maize farmers in the FCT and its environs have lamented that the failure of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) of the federal government has increased the challenges they have been facing over the years.
Speaking to our reporter in separate interviews, the farmers said non-distribution of subsidised fertilizer and seeds by the federal government has dealt many of them a great blow, as they have to resort to the open market for costly inputs.
A maize farmer in Karshi , Mr. Danladi Usman, told Daily Trust that he lost all the crops he planted at the onset of the rains this year as the rains stopped when the crops needed water most.
“We got no fertilizer and seeds from the federal government this year and had to find costly alternative. To worsen the situation, I lost all my maize crops planted early this year because the rains did not start early enough. I had to plant again when the rains resumed but I am not sure if the crops will survive as nobody knows when the rains will stop,” the farmer lamented.
He said the new challenges have added to the burden of lack of access to credit facility, mechanisation and improved input varieties among others, which farmers have been yearning for.
Another farmer, Mrs. Rose Audu, told our reporter that lack of subsidised fertilizer and seeds made her to buy from the open market at expensive prices, adding that the poor rainfall condition witnessed before now has equally cost her a lot as most of the crops she planted early wilted away.
“I had to repeat planting when the rains came again. It’s a waste of resources that could have been used for other things, and help is not coming from anywhere,” she lamented.
The farmers urged the government and other stakeholders to work out better ways of assisting Nigerian farmers to improve their livelihood and ensure food security as well.