SAFFLOWER: RMRDC GIVES FARMERS SEEDS

FACAN Nat Sect, Dr. Bello Dogondanji Congratulating Safflower Nat President,  Alhaji Bashir Tanko after receiving seed from Dr. Ogunwusi of RMRDC

The Raw Material Research Development Research (RMRDC) in partnership with a Chinese company named Kong Associate Limited has given out some quantity of safflower seeds to farmers for mult-locational trials across the regions. This is part of the strategy towards making Nigeria a major producer of the oil seeds because of its industrial potentials to reduce import.

 

The Director General RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim said that Nigeria with her adaptable ecologies to safflower should be able to compete with other producing countries of the world saying “RMRDC is making sustainable effort to popularize safflower and increase its cultivation in Nigeria as its processing and marketing when stabilized locally will save the country an estimated 10 billion naira currently expended on importation of pharmaceuticals, oil, medicinal drugs, herbal teas and cosmetics. Thus, the aspiration of the council is to make Nigeria a major player in the world safflower trade through the popularization of the crop and the development of its value chains”

A female Safflower farmer  receiving seed from Dr. Ogunwusi of RMRDC

In his remark, the National president, Safflower producers, processors and marketer association of Nigeria, Alhaji Bashir Tanko was very appreciative of the RMRDC’s effort in ensuring the expansion of the oil seeds crop in the country promising that his members would not disappoint the nation by ensuring the trial multiplication of the seeds in every regions towards achieving the dream of commercial productivity to checkmate import.

Chairman Majigi-Agro, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki  receiving seed from Dr. Ogunwusi of RMRDC

Alhaji Tanko said about five states including Oyo, Kebbi, FCT, Niger and Kaduna are already engaging in the multi locational trials of the seeds adding the association would not disappoint the council.