Sweet potato puts more money in farmers’ pockets

The cultivation of potatoes has continued to grow in some parts of Northern Nigeria as many farmers have settled for it to improve their income.

Some potato farmers in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State told our correspondent that growing potatoes is easy and profitable.

A farmer Yusha’u Suma’ila stated that he was getting better at potato cultivation.

He said “From the proceeds of the potatoes I cultivated last year, I did sugarcane. There is no doubt that more people are adopting the cultivation of potatoes. Therefore, I advise smallholder farmers to embrace it so that they can earn more,” the farmer said.

Another potato farmer, Idris Shehu, told our correspondent that he’s been growing potatoes for about 20 years, adding that anyone who starts growing potatoes cannot stop because of the profit it gives.

“Last year, I cultivated two fields of potatoes, and from each field, I got 50 big bags. And I sold the vines. If you grow potatoes, it will be bought, and you will get your money back. Anyone who grows potatoes will want to grow more the next year. I, therefore, advise anyone who has never grown potatoes to try and start because it is profitable,” he said.

Another potato farmer, Muhammed Sirajo Shitu, he’s been growing potatoes for 10 years because of the profit involved.

Alhaji Auwalu Wada Saminaka told our correspondent that he started cultivating potatoes this year because of the profit he saw from other farmers.

“Seeing the benefits of growing potatoes made a lot of people embrace it. Anyone who does not want to grow maize should try potatoes, it’s profitable,” he said.

Rabi’u Muhammed Dayyabu encouraged smallholder farmers to grow potatoes to earn more money.

“This year, I spent about N60,000 on my potato farm but when the potatoes were harvested, I made more than N500,000. That was part of the reason I embraced potato farming,” he said.

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