Wheat Production: Former IAR ED wants expansion to Jos, Obudu, Mambila

A former Executive Director ( ED), Institute of Agricutural Research, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar
and other prominent stakeholders have lent their voices to why the government should harness the climatic potential of wheat productions in Jos, Obudu in Cross River, and Mambila in Taraba.

IAR former ED, Professor I. A. Abubakar, highlighted that these regions hold the key to Nigeria's success in wheat production saying that " Weather in the Jos Plateau during the rainy season is ideal for wheat, and the same can be said for Obudu and Mambila" 

Abubakar however expressed frustration at the slow pace of response to this call saying " despite the years of advocating for the use of these areas, progress has been slowed", just as he attributed the use of inappropriate wheat varieties with poor crop management practices to the low production. 

The ED however noted that wheat productivity in Nigeria has received improvement as farmers who used to harvest less than one ton per hectare are now getting three tons per hectare pointing this was a significant leap in yield. He said " Wheat needs to be grown in a cool season and requires proper planning, including land preparation and irrigation. 

Water availability has been a critical factor limiting growth" Abubakar drew comparisons with Ethiopia, where wheat is cultivated in a rain-fed system on highland, saying that " Ethiopia doesn’t need to invest heavily in irrigation because their wheat is rain-fed. That’s the difference, and that’s why we need to focus on our highland areas like Jos, Obudu, and Mambila to replicate success" 

Responding to Prof. Abubakar's call, a representative of Government, commissioner for Agriculture, Cross River state, Mr, Johnson Ebokpo said effort towards harnessing favourable climate for wheat production in these areas has begun.

 Mr. Johnson Ebokpo said that " We didn’t wait for the Federal Government to list us as a major wheat-producing state. We have already started mapping stakeholders and collaborating with key partners such as the Lake Chad Research Institute and Flour Mill of Nigeria"