Kebbi farmers attribute high yield to IFAD-CASP seeds, agricbusiness training

Farmers in 11 communities of Gwandu, Aliero and Arewa local government areas in Kebbi State have attributed the high yield they recorded in this year’s harvest to the adoption of new farm practice, climate change, planting of quality seeds and the various agribusiness training by IFAD- Climate change Adaptation and Agricbusiness Support Programme (CASP) in the respective areas of the state.

The farmers while given their testimonies at Garin Bui, Falde and Gumunde areas of Arewa local government area during the IFADCASP/FGN third supervision mission to Kebbi State, said they were happy that the various training programmes they were exposed to have helped in their agricultural output and living standards.

A sorghum farmer at Garin Bui in Arewa local government, Afsatu Dandare, said the improved sorghum seed she was given by IFAD gave her high yield. She said because of the high harvest recorded, she has also given the seed to 11 people to plant during this year’s farming season.

Also, farmers at Masama, Yole Birnin and Dalijam areas of Gwandu were excited over how the various training they were given on weather and rainfall, agricbusiness and seedlings have helped them to grow in their farming practices and entrepreneur.

The state program officer, Mr. Joel Aiki, said IFAD was active in 97 communities in 14 local government areas of the state. “The farmers were provided with work bulls, foundation seeds, demographic plots, training on entrepreneurship to help them in all round farming,” he said.

While interacting with the various members of the community development associations in the three local government areas of Gwandu,Aliero and Arewa, the leader of the third IFAD -CASP/ FGN Supervision Mission, Dr. Rabe Isah Mani, said Kebbi State is a beneficiary of the CASP programme. “We have been commission to come and meet with the beneficiaries to understand what is going on, the successes, problems and the possible solutions”.

He added that from the interaction the team had with members, the CDAs, the programme started well. However, he stated that in the process there were delays which are of concerns to the beneficiaries.

“They have not lost the enthusiasm on the implementation of IFAD projects. Once we sought out the teething problems, the project will get back on track. They were happy over the ones that had been implemented in their various communities and from our interaction with them, the results are positive. It is a three year programme, we are just getting to the mid-term of its implementation,’’ he said.