By Yusuf Aliyu Lere
Bauchi State has become the first among the thirty six states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in producing Soyabean and Groundnut under the ongoing Demonstration farming exercise.
The feat was achieved as a result of the priority given to agricultural sector by the state government and the synergy with other agric promotion institutions initiated by the State Agricultural Development Program, BSADP.
The Program Manager, BSADP, Mallam Ya’u Muhammad announced this during a Farmer’s Field Day for Soyabeans plantation at a Demonstration Plot in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
The Soyabeans Demonstration Plot was a collaboration between BSADP, Agricultural Research Institution, OPC, and Seed-Co which provides Genetically Modified Seed.
Alhaji Ya’u Muhammad who called on farmers to embrace the new farming technology for maximum productivity explained that farming has been transformed from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
He commended the state government for its support to the agricultural sector by releasing counterpart fund for various programs for farmers and called for sustenance.
The Director Extension Services of the Program, Iliyasu Shu’aibu advised farmers to always consult Extension Workers when planting and to adhere to the weather focus released by the Nigerian Metheorological Agency to prevent loses.
Representatives of OPC and Seed-Co, Ibrahim Padason and Miracle Okechukwu respectively, promised to strengthen the partnership towards achieving food security.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the one hectare Soyabean Demonstration Plot has the potential of producing high yield in a short period of time through the use of OPC fertilizer and the seeds provides by Seed-Co.
