By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse
As the rainy season begins, the Jigawa State Government has launched the distribution of 30,000 sacks of seeds to 30,000 farmers across the 27 local government areas through the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of AFAN in Jigawa State, Engr. Auwal Birnin Kudu, stated that the association will take necessary steps to ensure that the distributed seeds are properly utilised by their members.
He emphasised that AFAN is committed to ensuring the seeds given to farmers are genuine and of high quality.
“Farmers in Jigawa State are always receptive and ready to adopt any new development introduced to them,” he said.
Engr. Birnin Kudu added that the association is ready to embrace this development wholeheartedly.
He explained that the association’s strategy is to multiply the seeds by distributing them to small-scale farmers, particularly AFAN members across the state.
This, he said, would ensure the seeds reach every nook and cranny of the state, thereby achieving the intended objective.
He further noted that both the quality and quantity of the seeds distributed are significant.
He assured that the seeds will be used judiciously and will reach the targeted farmers who can successfully grow and reproduce them.
The AFAN chairman called on all beneficiaries to make good use of the seeds to ensure that other farmers can benefit from the programme in the future.
However, despite the efforts by AFAN and the state government, some farmers in Jigawa have expressed concerns about using new seed varieties, particularly genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
An investigation by our correspondent in Dutse revealed that a significant number of farmers have stopped using fertilisers and new seeds introduced by various organisations, citing concerns about their long-term effects.
It was reliably gathered that around 60 per cent of farmers in the state now prefer to use seeds they have produced locally, rather than adopting newly introduced varieties.