Why wheat production is declining in Kano – AFAN

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State has called on the Federal Government to ensure appropriate pricing of wheat to encourage farmers to engage in large scale production of the commodity. The AFAN Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano. […]

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State has called on the Federal Government to ensure appropriate pricing of wheat to encourage farmers to engage in large scale production of the commodity.

The AFAN Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

Rabi’u said that the inappropriate pricing and a ready market for the commodity had discouraged a number of farmers in the state from engaging in large production of the commodity.

“The production of wheat has continued to decline since 2017 when farmers cultivated over 30, 000 hectares.

“In 2018 and 2019, only 10, 000 hectares were cultivated. This shows that wheat production is going down because of lack of ready market and good pricing,” he said.

According to him, if government and millers associations can come up with a minimum guarantee price, it will go a long way in encouraging more farmers to go into its production.

“This is because any farmer who sells the commodity at the prevailing market price, will definitely sell the commodity at a loss.

He described the current price of N10, 500 per bag as poor and discouraging.

He also blamed the closure of water from the Hadeja-Jama’ River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) as also contributing to the low production of the commodity this year.

According to him, local councils mostly affected include Bunkure, Kura and Garunmalam local government areas which are the largest wheat producing areas in the state.

“The management of the authority has given reason as to why the water was closed but the action had negatively affected our members,” he added.