National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason services are currently working with partners to improve productivity of small holder farmers in Kaduna State in the area of tomatoes, cowpeas, soyabean, Maize, and Rice.
The Coordinator, National Agricultural Extension Research Liason services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development domicile in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Professor Christopher Daudu stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting with the Kaduna state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs Dr Shehu Makarfi in his office.
Professor Daudu said the partners who are known as Extension, marketing, and Resilient Consortium, noted that, the purpose of the visit was to intimate the state Commissioner on the need for his Ministry and that of agriculture to support the project.
He explained that, productivity of small holders farmers were below expectation due to poor knowledge on modern farming and good agricultural practices, climate change and marketing issues.
According to him, they were going to use market extension and capacity building approach aimed at addressing the needs of farmers across the state.
“The project is only working in Kaduna state but a sister Organisation is carrying similar project in Niger state”.
Professor Daudu pointed out that, they were currently working in eighteen local government areas, stressing that, they cannot reach the other LGAs due to security concerns.
He further revealed that, Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Dr Shehu Makarfi was pleased with the concept of the project and directed it’s relevant officers to do the needful to ensure success of the project in the state.
He stressed the need for Kaduna state government to support them in the area of capacity building by establishing demo farms across the state and strengthen gender resilient by facilitating both improve knowledge on domesticated animals particularly poultry and reminence.
Professor Daudu however, encouraged small holder farmers in kaduna state to support Government effort and other partners to improve their productivity.
The coordinator of the Kaduna Consortium for Extension Africa Popularly known as Exaf, Mr Nasiru Darma said they are part of the current Kaduna Consortium project saddle with the responsibility of creating marketing, linkage and access to finance for small holder farmers.
Mr Darma noted that, the project is targeting to reach about three hundred farmers in eighteen local government area of Kaduna state.
According to him, their core mandate was to identify with the farmers to empower them financially by providing them through access to finance along other partners.
“Also to establish like one stock for farmer, where they can access input quality, other essential services”.
“It will also serve as a market point where off takers can meet farmers and buy from them among other services”.
“What we intend to do is that, we are going to train the farmers on buyers specification, we meet with the buyers on what they need this farmers to produce , the farmers are always there.
“We intend to provide knowledge and training to the farmers on what for them to produce and how to produce along other partners”.
“Kasuwar Noma where farmers can access various farming services such as quality inputs”, He concluded.
AMINU DALHATU
