FOOD SECURITY: FEED THE FUTURE INITIATIVE ORGANIZE GREEN FIELD DAY IN YOBE STATE 23-09-23
By Sadiq Aminu Over 500 farmers trained on seeds production and pests control have called for more support from government and other developmental partners in the agricultural sector, in Yobe State.
The Green Field Program which exhibited to farmers the differences within the varieties of crops distributed to seeds producers, was funded by Feed the future initiative, the United States Agency for International Development USAID and Implemented by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture IITA, and International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics ICRISAT.
The program lead of IITA Mr Joseph Abikoye said the community based seeds production has provided varieties of crops to seeds producers, which are resistant to heat, pest,diseases and early maturing.
The program which was extended to Yobe and Gombe States in 2023 has been in existence in Adamawa and Borno States since 2019.
A guest at the program and principal, government day science secondary school potiskum, Maina Dodo thanked USAID and its developmental partners for their support and cooperation to the farmers
The Country Representatives ICRISA, Dr Angarawai Ignitius, represented by Mr Jerom Jonah emphasized on the needs to put more effort in farming via climate smart agriculture to avert from hunger and food shortage
He called on farmers in Yobe state to inculcate the habit of using mechanized methods of farming as the state alone contributes about 47% of the sorghum consumed in the country
Some of the beneficiaries of the program Mohammed Auwal Disa and Usman Dan Fulani, while appreciating the qualities of seeds provided to them, said even with the current shortage of rain, global warming and the presence of pest, their farms remain safe and healthy.
Other farmers who highlighted some of the problems experienced said there’s a need for government and other developmental partners to provide fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized rate.
Seeds Distributed includes sorghum, millet, rice and cowpea.