Benniseed farmers are smiling to their banks as price of benniseed sky-rockets in Taraba markets.
Findings show that a100kg bag of newly harvested benniseed sold at N100,000.
Further finding revealed that apart from the price, benniseed farmers witnessed bumper harvest in Taraba.
It was gathered that a farm where ten bags was harvested last year, over 25 bags was harvested in the same farm this harvesting period.
Hundreds of farmers in Bali, Gassol, Gashaka, Donga, Karim-Lamido and Wukari local government area of Taraba State have opted for benniseed farming because of the demand and good price in recent years.
It was gathered that some farmers in Bali and Gassol harvested over 100 bags of benniseed this season and have made millions of Naira.
Excited by the fortune they made, more farmers are embarking on planting of benniseed which will be harvested in the next three months.
A farmer, Musa Saidu, said last year he harvested about 60 bags but this year, he harvested 95 bags of benniseed from the same farm.
He said there is ready market for benniseed in all the grain markets across the state, adding that in Garba, Chede Maihula and other markets, there are middle men from different parts of the country buying benniseed.
Finding revealed that two varieties of benniseed are in high demand and being sold at a high price.
He said Chinese and agric varieties are in high demand and sold at the rate of N90,000 to N100,000 per 100kg bag presently.
Another farmer, Waalamu Yakubu, told Daily Trust on Sunday that many maize farmers have abandoned food crops production and are now producing cash crops, particularly benniseed and water melon because of high patronage.
“Unlike maize production which requires more fertiliser, benniseed require less fertiliser and can be grown twice a year,” he said.
He said shortage and high cost of maize and rice will worsen if care is not taken as more farmers have abandoned food crops for cash crops.
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