Agriculture
Farmers Seek End To Low Yield With GM Crops
Small holder farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun seeking out ways to put an end to low crop yield, using Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
Similarly, stakeholders in the agricultural sector are seeking ways to end the present food crisis by encouraging farmers to key into GM crops.
They said unlike the conventional crops, GM crops are resistant to a lot of pests, need less chemical applications which is good for the environment and has great yield.
The Coordinator, Alliance for Science Nigeria, Opuah Abeikwen, said the idea is for farmers to see how science can help solve problems.
He said this in Abuja when Alliance for Science Nigeria, in partnership with the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria, led small holders farmers to GM farms to understand the value of the crops.
“We brought farmers to see how science can help solve our problems. We have been talking about GM crops for sometime now and many people don’t know what it looks like,
“So, we brought farmers to the field where GM cowpea is cultivated so they can see first hand and compare it to the varieties they have been planting and see how science can help us solve some of our issues”, Abeikwen said.
A farmer, and Chief Executive Officer, Yieldwise Seeds, Patience Koku, said the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea that was introduced to the farmers are resistant to cowpeas’ most deadly pest, the Maruca worm.
“We are here in a sampe 20T field and what we are growing here is the PBR cowpea which is resistant to the maruca.
“As farmers, one of the biggest problems we have with cowpea production is a worm called Maruca. The maraca worm is so destructive that sometimes as farmers we cannot harvest at all, it would take all the pods, suck everything out and you have zero harvest.
“Over the years our beans or cowpeas have continued to be more expensive because farmers harvest less, so what this variety of cowpea does for us is that it has enabled us to be able to overcome this challenge.
“When we plant the cowpea, we spray less. Usually, farmers have to spray pesticides up to ten times to be able to get a good yield. But now, what has happened is that we spray far less, two to three sprays and you get a good harvest”, she said.
“This variety also has other benefits, the bark or the pod when you harvest the seed is used as animal feed. What this variety does is that you have a good pod, meaning you have more to sell.
“We also sell the leaves and with this variety, the pods dry out and the leaves are still green, which is good for farmers. So, farmers can make money from not only the seeds but residue.
“We are excited that the variety is readily available in the market for farmers to buy, which means the general prices of beans in the market we expect would begin to drop in a couple of years and if we cannot produce beans effectively, it means the price would continue to go up.”
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.