We cross-breed to add value to our animals - Gwajo-Gwajo
Alhaji Umar Ya’u Gwajo-Gwajo is the Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tabkin Bauna farms in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State. In this interview, he explains his farm’s unique cross-breeding technique that is adding value to its animals. Excerpts: to commence production of cheese, we felt we can increase the volume of milk through crossbreeding. Don’t forget that it is not only in the sheep and goat we cross-breed even in our cows and mules, we have close to five different specimens that we have mixed and they are giving us excellent results. We intend to, in the nearest future, come up with our dairy products, which is why of recent we stopped selling milk from our farm as we prepare for the takeoff of the factory.
Tell us about the crossbreeding of your animals?
Well, cross breeding as we all know is an act of developing or improving on a certain species of animals or plants. By cross-breeding you can add value to a particular class of animals. Like in our instance, we have goats, sheep and cattle from Sudan, Jordan and Niger Republic in this farm. They are unique and known for high quality meat and milk; and given their sizes, we have different ways we cross breed with our normal Sokoto red goats or the Nigerien goats. So far so good, we have seen their offspring developing fast and giving us the desired result. The volume of milk and meat is commendable.
What advantage do you drive from cross-breeding these animals?
As I said, farming especially herding animals is what we grow up to do and we saw our parents doing, it is something that is in our blood and we always find ways to add value to what we are doing. So, with time and increasing knowledge and pieces of advice from people and consultants, we feel the need to experiment and with our plan
Is the cross-breeding enhancing your production?
Yes, that is very correct. When we came up with the idea of expanding the farm to accommodate sheep and cattle, we had in mind to g go into production of yoghurt and other dairy commodities in the nearest future. We were selling milk daily in large quantity. It was at that stage that we felt we can go further and invited some like
minds to develop the concept. We brought in the French and some people from neighbouring Niger Republic came to the farm and saw our stocks and are ready to collaborate in establishing a cheese factory here. Already, two of my staff are heading to Niger Republic where similar farm exists to see and get trained on the farm so that we can start as soon as possible.
Did you get support from a bank?
That is one area we farmers are seriously feeling the heat. Source of financing is greatly militating against our operations. Like I told you earlier, on paper the banks keep advertising and making it look so simple to get a loan, but justj try y applyingppy g for one, it is then that you will know it is not as easy as it seems. After different kinds of talks, visitations and what have you, one ends up not getting anything and even if you
are lucky, the interest rate will drive you away. I think government must come to our aid by providing a genuine interest-free farming loans or at least a single digit interest loan. This will go a long way in opening up more opportunities in farming to make us self-sufficient.
Apart from financing, what other challenges are you facing in this farm?
Power, this sector is equally milking us dry. You need energy sufficiently to run an effective and profit-oriented farm. The huge cost on diesel for our generating sets is so worrisome that sometimes one feels like folding up. You need power to mix feeds for the animals, power to supplypp y water, p power to clean up the places and with the coming of our new plant for the cheese and
other dairy products, just imagine how the cost of provision of power alone can be. Really government must do something about it and urgently too. This has been another problem for farmers. Another issue has to do with cattle rustling; thank God in this area it is not as rampant as other places. Purchasing power of the individuals and markets must equally be guaranteed so that products produced don’t end up wasted with people not able to buy.
In view of all these, how do you think government can help small scale farmers?
First of all, we are grateful for the emergence of a farmer as president-elect, this is a welcome developmentp g giving g the fact that he is aware of all the issues involved in farming, and what to do to make it easier.