Farmers optimistic of good wheat harvest

As the wheat harvesting period commences, wheat farmers in Nigeria are optimistic of bumper harvest owing to several interventions received by the farmers to boost wheat production in the country.

This was exclusively disclosed by the National President Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) Alhaji Musa Shehu Sheka during a media chat with Daily Trust. According to him, though harvesting activities have begun in some places, it is too early to actually say what the expected yield would be at the end of the harvesting period, adding that from indicators obtained as a result of the several lists of intervention accessed by members of the association, farmers are optimistic of a bumper harvest this season.

“It will interest you to know that the association has received improved seeds from the federal ministry of Agriculture, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Flour Millers Association Nigeria (FMAN); from the reports we have been receiving, these improved seeds are doing great in the field. We are expecting a yield of over 2.5tons to 3tons per hectare as against the usual 1.5tons per hectare. Though some places have begun harvesting, we would be able to actually ascertain the increase in the yield when actual harvesting activities commence in about two weeks,” he said.

Reacting on the issue of wet season wheat farming, the president revealed that the association had begun a trial of the new agronomic practice. He explained that the trial that was started during last year’s rainy season had received attention and efforts to perfect the processes will continue in the coming rainy season.

It would be recalled that in 2022, WFAN with support from the CBN had begun experimenting with wet season wheat farming around Hadejia in Jigawa State and Plateau State respectively.