Wurno onion farmers decry lack of govt support

Malam Wurno who said he has been harvesting 300 to 345 bags of 100kilograms each of onions from his three hectares farm, revealed that the always buys his onion seeds, fertilizer and other inputs from the open market and is not aware of any onion farmer that got any form of support from either the […]

Malam Wurno who said he has been harvesting 300 to 345 bags of 100kilograms each of onions from his three hectares farm, revealed that the always buys his onion seeds, fertilizer and other inputs from the open market and is not aware of any onion farmer that got any form of support from either the state or federal government.
“Farmers of other crops are getting support from government in the state but not onion farmers. I am not sure government recognises us or remembers that we exist. But funny enough, we always see government officials coming to buy onions from us for their use at home.
“I am of the belief that our researchers have the capability to develop improved onion seeds that will produce onions with longevity instead of the ones we have now that perish easily. That way, we can be able to reduce the waste we record daily as a result of lack of preservation equipment,” he said.
Another onion farmer also in Wurno, Malam Muazu Mai Albasa, urged government at both state and federal levels to include onion farmers among farmers targeted for the supply of subsidised inputs as that will enhance the production of onions in the country.
“People from other countries are highly interested in our onions because it is of high quality and has a lot of pepper. The problem is onion perishes easily. You cannot load onions in a truck to Gambia or
Central Africa, it will perish before getting there. But if a more durable variety can be developed, it will enhance our ability of exporting it,” he said.
Our reporter who went round Wurno market and stalls where onions are stocked reports that though large quantity of the produce is transported daily to markets outside the state, as onions are stocked in large quantity in the area.