The Kano State government plans to establish demonstration farms across the state to promote high-yield and climate-smart crop varieties aimed at boosting agricultural productivity.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud, disclosed this in Kano while briefing journalists on the outcome of the Paris International Agricultural Show recently attended by Governor Abba Yusuf and a delegation from the state.
Mahmoud said the demonstration farms would serve as pilot centres where improved drought-resistant seeds would be tested and showcased to farmers before large-scale adoption across the state.
According to him, the initiative followed engagements with several international agricultural research organisations and companies during the summit, which attracted over 2,000 participating firms from France and other parts of the world.
He explained that the improved seeds being considered for introduction in Kano could significantly increase farm output, particularly rice production.
“In our case here, farmers produce between 35 and 50 bags of rice per hectare on the average.
“But with the improved varieties being developed by these research entities, a hectare can produce between 120 and 140 bags,” the commissioner said.
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Mahmoud noted that the state government had begun discussions with some of the research institutions with a view to signing memoranda of understanding to facilitate the introduction of the improved seeds and other modern agricultural technologies.
He added that the demonstration farms would also help address the growing problem of adulterated and fake seeds in the market by enabling farmers to identify genuine high-yield varieties.
The commissioner further disclosed that the delegation also held talks with manufacturers of farm machinery on possible collaboration in the supply and local fabrication of modern agricultural implements.
He said the partnership would focus on equipment such as handheld tractors, threshers and solar-powered farm tools aimed at improving efficiency and reducing the burden of manual farming.
Mahmoud added that the initiative would also support local fabricators in Kano to upgrade their production capacity while training agricultural personnel and extension workers to ensure effective transfer of modern technologies to farmers.
