As part of its wheat development programme, the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has said that it has cultivated about 1,200 hectares this season in Kano and a total of 4,000 across 7 norther states; Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi & Gombe
DAILY NEWS 24 reports that FMAN is a consortium of flour millers in the country focused on backward integration toward improving Nigeria’s capacity to locally produce wheat. Its role is catalytic as it strives to expand the supply chain through the provision of inputs to farmers, agronomic trainings, extension services and buy-back for locally produced wheat.
To facilitate ease in the procurement of wheat from farmers, it has established over 40 warehouses at grass-roots level to allow easy delivery of grains by farmers with the hope to purchase from 50,000 farmers across all wheat producing states; Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara, and Yobe.
Aliyu Samaila, the National Programme Manager, Flour Milling Association of Nigeria, Wheat Development Programme, disclosed this at Wheat Farmers’ Green Field Day, held in Kadawa, Kura Local Government area of Kano State, yesterday.
He said FMAN was able to cultivate 1200 hectares in Kano, due to the rehabilitation of irrigation scheme in Kadawa and with the improved performance of the crop, we will continue to grow as the program progresses.
The Green Field Day is an event that brings wheat farmers, research scientists, policy makers and other stakeholders together on the field to interact on new improved technologies for adoption and to showcase the growing wheat crop across several farms, Because when you bring something new, not every farmer adopts. Some wait to see the outcome first. Others adopts one leg in one leg out until they are sure of the good outcome. At this event, “We are gathered here today to hear from the farmers, to tell us what they have done, right from the inception of the programme to this level and what is expected of the crop”.
The Programme Manager states that the Wheat Development Programme had started in 2020, adding that it would go on until it is satisfied that the benefitting local farmers could go on their own .
He further expressed hope that the programme, which started three years ago, would progress up to the level of making local wheat production increased thereby improving Nigeria’s production capacities.
The Programme Manager explained that theGreen Field day Events was held in Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi states before Kano, disclosing that there would be a Brown Field Day programme in Jigawa next month to showcase the harvest of wheat.
He concluded that FMAN’s focus remains on research and development, seed production, agronomic and input support and purchasing of local wheat from the farmers.
