Large scale farmer expresses optimism over bumper harvest in Kano

 A large scale farmer in Kano State, Garba Bichi, has expressed optimism that the state would record bumper harvest this farming season.

He made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

“From all indications, we are going to have a bumper harvest this year, especially in rice which I produce every year,” he said.

Bichi said that with the volume of rains being recorded in the state, farmers would record better yields this year.

He said the rain recorded this planting season would facilitate the growth of many foods and cash crops, especially rice and maize that required lot of water to grow.

Bichi, who was the immediate past secretary of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, however, expressed concern over the high cost of fertiliser.

“High cost of fertiliser is one of the challenges of farmers in the state as a bag of urea cost N12, 000 in the open market.

“Though the price has come down to N7, 500 now, but not all the farmers can afford to buy it at this exorbitant price,” he said.

According to him, the NPK fertiliser being produced by the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) is not as qualitative as the one in the open market.

“The NPK fertiliser being produced by KASCO is not as qualitative as the one we buy at the open market and that is why many farmers are not using it.’’

Bichi called on the Federal Government to provide adequate fertiliser to farmers to force down the price in the open market.

“We learnt that the Federal Government is planning to provide fertiliser to farmers through GES in eight local government areas of the state.

“Though GES had its own problem, but the system can be modified to make it more effective,” he said. (NAN)