Rice Farmers in Niger State Advised to Adopt Good Agronomy Practices for Higher Yields
From Priscilla Pwadivi, Minna.
Rice farmers in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State have been advised to adopt good agronomy practices to ensure higher rice yields per hactsre during the dry season
This advice was given by Prof. Abigail Jirgi, Lead Consultant for Good Agronomy Practices (GAP) for the Federal Government Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Niger state during the training of rice farmers at Kpayi , Edati local government area.
Prof. Jirgi, who led a team of consultants from the department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management Federal University of Technology, Minna, explained that the training organized for rice farmers focused on modern farming techniques, including the use of power tiller machines,
quality seeds, and proper spacing.
She noted that the farmers have shown a high level of compliance with the new practices and are expected to experience increased yields and incomes.
According to Prof. Jirgi, this is the third year of training for the farmers, and the results have been impressive. “Some of the farmers now plant three times a year, unlike before,” she said.
Mohammed Ahmadu, a rice farmer from Kpayi village, testified that the training has improved his output significantly. He attributed the success to the knowledge gained on proper land preparation, nursery bed management, and fertilizer application.
Another farmer, Abubakar Isah stated that the adoption of good agronomy practices has led to a significant increase in yield per hectare compared to previous years.
The State Coordinator of VCDP, Hajiya Hadizat Isah, represented by the Agricultural Production Officer,
Lawal Mohammed, emphasized that capacity building for farmers is a continuous process aimed at achieving sustainable rice production.
He explained that the training programs are designed to target specific farmers at various stages of production to improve their yields.
