Zamfara farmers excited over improved cotton, tomato and pepper seeds

A cross-section of farmers in Zamfara State has expressed joy over the introduction of new improved seeds and vowed to embrace cotton, tomato and pepper production in the state after the introduction of the new improved seeds to them. 

Speaking during the Farmers’ Day  in Gusau Local Government Area, some of the farmers who spoke with our reporter, said the introduction of the new seeds was encouraging and they would return to cotton production in the state. 

“Farmers have abandoned cotton production because of the problem with the seed. Lack of improved seed that would give a farmer high yield is the mother of all problems concerning cotton farming.

“The traditional seed that farmers plant is not yielding positive result but the problem has been solved now. You can see from this cotton farm and make comparison with those in the past,” a farmer, Alhaji Aminu, said. 

“As you can see, in each of the cotton plant at least 170 to 250 cotton balls could grow, that means high yield and more profit for a farmer, unlike before when the farmers were scared away by low yield and many other factors. I think the problem of seeds has been addressed,” he added. 

He said in recent years, farmers in the state shifted their attention to soya beans production because of the problems of seeds in cotton farming. 

The Market Development Officer overseeing Zamfara and Katsina states, Yusuf Hamza, said the seeds  being introduced in Nigeria have undergone series of tests and that they are resistant to bollworms and other pests that destroy cotton on farmlands. 

“It gives higher yield and it is resistant to pest attacking cotton such as ball worms. Up to two to three tons could be harvested in one hectare depending on how well a farmer treats his farm,” he added. 

The National Secretary of NACOTAN, Alhaji Hassan Tafida, called on farmers to embrace new farming techniques, saying that farming activities globally are taking improved shapes using technology.