Rice farmers urged to adopt best agric practices to boost output in Niger
By Priscilla Ben
Rice farmers under the Value Chain Development Programme ( VCDP) in Niger state have been called upon to adhere to best agricultural practices to boost rice production in the state.
This advise was given by facilitators during training of leaders of rice farmers on Good Agronomy Practices (GAP) on Wet Season Rice Production in Doko, Lavun local government.
Speaking to the farmers, the state VCDP Lead Consultant on GAP Prof. Abigail Jirgi from Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management urged the farmers to follow best agronomy practices by considering the use of power tillers, soil testing and weather testing kits, to increase their yields as lack of adhering will lead to low output.
She explained that in 2023 rice farmers were harvesting between 1.2 metrics ton to 1.5 during raining season which has now moved to between 6 to 6.5 metrics ton under the VCDP, rice farming intervention.
” With farmers in Lavun local government on board, it is expected to increase from the current low output, if they adopt GAP on their rice farms”
Prof. Mohamudu Salawudeen from the department of Crop Production FUT Minna stressed the importance of sourcing of seeds as major key to quality rice as well as high yields.
” The source of seeds is very important because it determines the ultimate goal. Most farmers don’t go to reputable sources to buy seeds . What they buy is just different variety of seeds and when it comes to maturity, it will mature at different times. The importance of good seeds cannot be over emphasized for a good output, ” he advised.
Earlier, Abdulhamid Musa Kuta
Assistant Agric Officer VCDP Niger state stressed the importance of capacity building for farmers in boosting production saying due to the state’s performance, Lavun was added to the already eight participating local governments in the state.
” We already have the market, all the farmers need is knowledge and capacity building on GAP. This is because, good output starts with following the good planting method ” he disclosed.
Some leaders of the rice farmers commended the VCDP for the training given to them and pledged to set aside the old methods of farming rice and adopt the new techniques, such as the use of quality seeds, creating nursery beds, transplanting, and type of fertilizer to use to improve their yields.
According to them, ” We have been seeing other participating local governments have increased yields and we believe, same will happen to us with our LG included on the VCDP intervention “..
