GOMBE – Farmers involved in pilot wheat production scheme in Gombe State on Thursday appealed to governments at all levels to patronise them, to enhance the production of the crop.The farmers made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.
The Chairman, Dry Season Farmers, Alhaji Yahaya Ali, said that the 530 farmers engaged in the pilot wheat farming in the area would be willing to continue, if encouraged.
Yahaya, the Chairman Daban Magarya in Balanga Local Government Area of the state, urged the federal, states and local governments to patronise the farmers.
“If governments at all levels could buy up the seeds from them at good price, they would be encouraged to continue with the scheme.
“Almost all of them have harvested the crop and are waiting for the government to buy them at good price, so that they would engage in rainy season farming.
“The farmers have learnt the skills as a pilot scheme and are preparing to scale up production and even train others in the next dry season.
“The farmers are, however, facing series of challenges, including late provision of seeds, fertiliser and the inability of the government to buy the produce.”
Ali suggested that government should ensure the provision of the inputs by October, to enable them to start early farming.
Another farmer, Isa Musa said they were impressed with the introduction of the wheat farming programme, noting that they were relying on the government for assistance.
The Federal Government provided 180 bags of wheat seeds and fertiliser to farmers in Gombe State to embark on the wheat farming trial.
Gombe State Government also supplemented with fertilisers, chemicals, wash boreholes, water pumps and other incentives to about 530 farmers across the state. (NAN)
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