Sokoto Sesame farmers pleaded Gov for quality seeds

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 6^th 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.