According to reports from DAILY POST, the Jigawa State Government has revealed a concerning trend among the state's farmers - over 60% are not using improved seedlings in their agricultural activities.
This revelation came from Saifullahi Umar, the Technical Advisor on Agriculture to the state governor, during a capacity-building session for supervisors of the Rice Millionaires program.
Umar emphasized the critical importance of seed quality, noting that 35-50% of a farmer's yield depends on the seeds they use.
"Most of our farmers have been making less or no profit due to the seeds they use in their farms," he stated.
The government estimates that for wet season farming of millet alone, at least 2,000 tons of improved seedlings are needed across Jigawa.
The situation is similar for other key crops like sorghum, maize, wheat, and rice.
The lack of access to early-generation seeds, such as breeder and foundation seeds, has been a longstanding challenge for Jigawa's farmers.
Umar stressed the urgent need to address these wide gaps that have persisted for many years, hindering farmers' productivity and profitability.
In response, the Jigawa State Government has launched the Rice Millionaires program, which aims to shift the perspectives of youth away from traditional farming methods and towards viewing agriculture as a viable business opportunity.
Umar urged the participants of the capacity-building session, who are supervisors of the Rice Millionaires program, to use the knowledge they acquired wisely and to disseminate it to farmers at the grassroots level.
He reiterated the government's commitment to improving agriculture across the state, emphasizing the importance of ensuring food security and boosting the state's economy.