More farmers are now going into cash crop production across Taraba State farming communities despite the high cost of foodstuffs, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.
Three key cash crops, sesame, groundnut, and melon have taken over more farms where food crops such as maize, guinea corn, millet and cassava are grown.
Findings revealed that a 100kg bag of sesame was sold during harvest last year at N100,000 while a 100kg bag of melon seed sold at N75,000.
Farmers interviewed said they are into farming sesame, groundnut, and melon seeds because they provide a good source of money for the production of other crops.
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Lawal Garba, a farmer in Garba Chede, Bali Local Government Area told Daily Trust that sesame, groundnut, and melon seeds are planted very early and mature early to allow for the planting of maize and other crops on the same farm.
He said the proceeds from sesame, groundnut, and melon seeds are used to produce maize and other crops on the same farm and such farming is now a new source of money to farmers.
He said last year, he harvested ten bags of sesame and sold them at N95,000 per bag.
“I made about one million from my sesame farm last year and invested the proceeds in producing maize on the same farm and harvested fifty bags of maize.
“The advantage of growing sesame, groundnut, and melon seeds is that these crops are planted soon after the start of rainfall and they mature early enough to produce other crops also it is the proceeds from sesame or melon seeds are used to grow other crops,” he said.
Another farmer, Ibrahim Ali said because of the short period of maturing, many farmers opt for growing the three cash crops instead of producing maize and other food crops.
He said he too has ventured into growing sesame and melon seeds but was very careful not to pay more attention to cash crop production as against growing food crops.
He said many of those that produced more cash crops last year were disappointed because they had to spend more to buy foodstuffs due to the high price of maize, rice and other foodstuffs.
“Last year, farmers made money from sesame, groundnut and melon seeds farming but many of them fell victim to kidnappings and the proceeds were used in payment of ransom,” he said.
The Chief of Mutum Biyu chiefdom, Justice Sani Suleiman (rtd), however, cautioned his subjects against shifting completely from food crop production to cash crop farming.
He said the disadvantage of producing less food crops is that many families who practice farming as a main source of income would not be able to have enough food for the whole year.
According to him, if a farmer made millions from his farm, there was the tendency that he would spend the money without proper planning and before he realises it, the money is finished and will end up going to the market to buy foodstuffs.
He said it will be difficult for farmers with families to sell the foodstuffs they produce without reserving for their families.
The monarch who is a large-scale farmer therefore advised his subjects not to be carried away by the money made from cash crops insisting that there was a need for farmers to produce more food crops to ensure food security for their families.
“You will agree with me many of those that produced more cash crops last year have regretted because they have to pay more to buy foodstuffs. Many of them have not enough reserves of grains in their houses and l hope you will learn a lesson from the experience of this year” the monarch said.
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