By Rachael Maza
Nigeria may soon regain its status as major exporter of cereals as 15, 000 maize farmers have been successfully trained in the modern maize arming across the country.
The training exercise was organized by Syngenta in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) in Ikara Local government area of Kaduna state recently, during the Maize farmers Field Day.
Earlier in his remarks, the Programme Manager of Syngenta Nigeria Limited, Iruansi Itoandon said the training covers areas such as land selections, where farmers are taught on land topography, soil texture and vegetable composition.
“We also taught our farmers on how to conduct land clearing in mild nature such that neither the top soil nor the micro-organism is destroyed.
“Farmers were also educated on chemical land preparation and planting
of maize and seed,” he said.
Itoandon added that the trained farmers learn how to use Gramoxone and Primextra gold within 24 hours after planting maize to control weeds and seeds.
Speaking on behalf of the training consultant, IFDC, Mbabie Ernest said the six months training has already started yielding results in the seven pilot local government areas of Kaduna state.
The District Head of Gomo and also the Chairman of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Bagudu commended Syngenta and International Fertilizer Development Centre, IFDC for the six months training and called on the State and Federal Government to assist the organization extend the training to other farmers because the present mode is tedious.
A lead farmer from Makarfi and a beneficiary, Tambaya K. Nomau described the gesture as a welcome development which comes with less expenses and stress for the farmers.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
