Kano rice farmers record bumper harvest despite poor rainfall

By Bisola Adeyemo

Rice farmers in Kano State have been advised to adopt the use of improved rice seedlings for multiple harvests and reduce the cost of production.

The advise came following the testimonies of other rice farmers who harvested bountifully despite the short rains in Dakasoye settlement of Garun Malam local government area of Kano State.

NAN reports that the Sasakawa Africa Association through the Kano Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) under the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), which began in 2020.

According to the farmers, the seedlings had boosted their production by about 25 percent.

While speaking on the seedling rejection, a rice farmer Iliyasu Garba said he was among the few farmers that resisted the improved seedlings when it was introduced to them through the Kano Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), but he later accepted the seedling following massive awareness and training.

“I used to work on one hectare of land and produce about 15 to 20 bags of rice, but this year, I farmed the same hectare and harvested 25 bags,” he said.

Muhammed Rashid, another large-scale farmer, said the intervention had exposed him to extensive commercial farming.

Mr Rashid said that using the improved seedlings was cost-effective and easier than using traditional seedlings.

Another rice and maize farmer at Samawa settlement, Murtala Idris said when he accepted the seedlings; other farmers he invited to test it was describing him as mad.

“I used to harvest 50 bags of rice but this year when I tried the improved seedlings, I got about 70 bags so far,” Mr Idris said.