New agric practice increases rice yield in kebbi

Rice farmers at the Dan Kwale rice production cluster in Argungu area of Kebbi State have attributed the increase they recorded in rice production to adoption of new farming practice, planting methods, choice of seeds and rightly application of agrochemicals during farming season.

The farmers while narrating their experiences to officials of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase 1 (ATASP1) who were in Kebbi State to assess the performance of ATASP1 at the Dan Kwale rice production cluster said the training by the change agents has greatly led to improvement in their farm output.

One of the 280 farmers at the Dan Kwale ATASP 1 rice production cluster, Muhammed Aliyu told our correspondent that the 186 hectares of land they are farming on was well arranged to allow for more yield. He said with the new method farmers could harvest up to 10 bags of paddy per line.

He said, “Because of the new farm practice in 2017 I harvested 60 bags of rice. I sold half of it and I kept the remaining half for my family consumption.”

While speaking to journalists the ATASP1 National Program Coordinator, Mr. Haruna Akwashiki said ATASP1 has trained and helped farmers to improve their yields and adopt new farm practice in 35 rice clusters of rice and 25 clusters of sorghum in Kebbi State.

The lead consultant to ATASP1 on the midterm review exercise, Dr. Samuel Eremie also led the visiting team to inspect some ATASP1 projects at Kamba rice market, Sabon Tunga in Bunza Local Government and Albasa area of Argungu.