Why we avoid wheat production – Farmers

Some farmers in Sokoto State said they avoid venturing into wheat farming due to the non availability of improved seeds and market for the commodity.

Some selected farmers disclosed this when they were interviewed by our reporter during the Sokoto wheat farmers green Field Day organized by Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN).

Malam Muhammadu, who is a wheat farmer in Wamakko Local Government Area, said there was nothing more worrisome than a farmer not getting market for the commodity he had laboured to produce.

He lamented that wheat farmers were not getting support of the state government.

Another wheat farmer, Malam Sani, who corroborated this, appealed to the state government to provide farmers, especially wheat farmers, with modern equipment and inputs which he said would make wheat farming attractive in the state.

The farmers, however, commended FMAN for its intervention in wheat farming in the state which has enabled them have access to improved seeds and modern technology.

Speaking, the National Programme Manager of FMAN Wheat Development Programme, Dr Aliyu Sama’ila, said they have trained over 5000 wheat farmers in the state on modern wheat production, adding that they have 33 demonstration plots in the state.