Sokoto Sesame farmers group picture |
The Sokoto sesame seed farmers have passionately demanded
from the State Government improved sesame seeds for planting during the ongoing
dry season saying it was an economic crop that is in high demand in the
international market, and first in the export earning among others agricultural
crops in the country.
The National president, Alhaji Sherif Balogun and Sokoto
state chapter secretary of the sesame seeds association, Alhaji Sani Daudu Yabo
have both requested the state government to take advantage of economic
potential in the crop for the benefit of farmers through provision of quality
seeds and other agro inputs as there is high market demand for the crop based
on its oil content that can be used for multipurpose.
This plead was made at the just concluded training
organized for the farmers at Sokoto on the best agricultural practices by the
National Sesame Seed Association in collaboration with Federal Ministry of
Industry Trade and Investment as part of the capacity building of the crop producers
towards meeting its market standard.
Speaking on the occasion, the national president of the
association, Alhaji Balogun advised the state government on the need to give
quality seeds support to farmers for the production of the crop towards
generating more income for better living, saying presently the crop is the
highest export earnings for the country and the state has potential of planting
in three seasons unlike others that have no dams opportunities.
Alhaji Balogun pointed that the association would be
donating about 1.5 kg of improved seeds to the state chapter to grow in the ongoing
dry season planting as there is standby buyer that will procure all the
existing seeds presently on ground in the state.
According to him “ the association will give seeds to
Sokoto state sesame seeds farmers, about 1.5kg and the quality has the
potential of giving high yield total of about 7,000 tons. It is the most
profitable crop, giving higher export earning than cocoa beans in the country.
First in the ranking among agricultural export in Nigeria. Sokoto has potential
to become best sesame seeds grower as there are water dams that can assist on
three farming seasons. Unlike Taraba state where planting is done twice in a
year, Sokoto state can do thrice based on their water availability potential”
Also, the state secretary to the association, Alhaji
Sani Yabo in his keynote address has
demanded for quality seeds, fertilizer and other agro chemical inputs which the
representative of the commissioner of Agriculture has promised would be well
delivered to the right quarter for possible immediate actions by the state
government.
The Commissioner of the agriculture, Alhaji Umar Magwari
Tambuwal who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state, Alhaji
Garuba Shuni who promised to report back all the request from the association
to the government.
Other farmers who speak to Food Farm News expressed that
government need to take advantages in the crop to encourage production through
support of inputs and agro chemical like is done to rice, wheat and millet in
the state.
One of the resource persons at the training Dr. Usman
Aliyu from National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) advised the farmers to
ensure best agronomics practice that would give 1.3 tons per hectare thereby
giving an increase from 300 kg adding that variety with high oil content must
be sought for planting.
In the world, Nigeria ranked 6th largest
producer of sesame seed as the commodity is produced mainly in 21 states of the
federation and it can still be extended to attract more economic earning
because of its high demand, but regrettably the value chain system of the crop
is very weak in the country.
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