Rice farmers commence harvest for first organic induce production

Rice farmers in Emigi, Katcha local government area  of Niger State have begun the harvest of rice produced using bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, two critical inputs used in organic farming only.

The over 30 hectares farmlands of rain-fed rice were tendered by 30 farmers drawn from 10 communities, including Emigi Village with bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides provided by Contec Global Agro Limited in a multi-stakeholders collaborative scheme involving the Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN) and the Niger State Fadama Coordination office.

The harvest which was officially flagged off early this month in Emigi is consequent upon the remarkable results obtained from using the purely organic inputs with guidance from reputable agronomists and other experts.

“Going back to nature in food production as the alternative means in sustainable food security, considering the benefit inherent in it, are what motivated AGAN to demonstrate rice using organic/bio-fertilizer in collaboration with Contec Global Agro,” Hussaini Iliyasu, coordinator, AGAN, Niger State.

“The farmers’ field day is to bring into limelight the achievements of farmers whose crop was under demonstration plots for analysing the efficacy of Bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides,” Iliyasu said.

Mohammed Mahmoud, representative among the farmers who participated in the experimentation, said the evidence is there in the field for all to see and feel. “I have farming neighbours who use the conventional products. They get on the average, 40 tillers per plant, whereas I get up to 60-70 tillers per plant,” he said.

“Very importantly, using the products has helped in cutting down the cost of production for us to as much as 60 per cent as against the past,” Mahmoud added.

Thomas Chackunkal, managing director, Contec Global Agro, who spoke on the project’s focus said it seeks to help make farming more healthy and lucrative,  “The use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides would help to ultimately give life to the soil, give the farmers lesser financial stress and ensure that the people eat very healthy foods,” he said.

Baba Madugu, managing director, Niger State Agriculture Mechanisation Agency (NAMDA), hailed the organic farming initiative, saying it is surely the way to go for Nigeria.