Food security: Horti Nigeria trains 100 small holders farmers on data record, productivity enhancement

Horti Nigeria Program has trained 100 smallholders farmers on data record and crop productivity using new innovative technology to address food security and increase income generation.

The Project Director, Horti Nigeria, Mr Mohammad Salasi-Idris, made the disclosure while facilitating various projects of demo-plots in Rimin Gado and Garko local government areas of Kano, on Friday.

The program is Dutch-Funded implemented through International Fertilizer Development Centre(IFDC), in transforming the agricultural sector and job creation in agricultural value chain of vegetables crops such as tomoto and okra.

Salasi-Idris explained that the program was to facilitate and develop a sustainable and inclusiveness of Horti culture in Nigeria that contributes food security.

“To improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers through new innovation technology of agriculture for crop productivity enhancement and increase of an income generation”

He noted that Horti Nigeria established a demo plots at different locations were the knowledge was transferred to the farmers.

The new and good agronomy practice system of planting a good variety of tomato was showcased were the community members showed their happiness of the new knowledge and promised quick adoption.

The Director advised farmers to transfer the knowledge to the members of the community and continue to use good agronomic system in farming.

On her part, the Director Marketing Development IFDC, Mrs Veryl Adele, pledged her readiness to work with farmers in term of market strategies, which will minimize post harvest loss, as well as suitable market at an appreciable price.

Also, the Village Head of Karofin Yashi, Rimin Gado Local Government, Alhaji Salihu Inusa, commended Horti Nigeria for the support, adding that his community members will embrace such initiative and judiciously make use of it.

The Host farmers of tomato in Karofin Yashi Village, Rimin Gado local government, Malam Saleh Isa, said there is significant changes in term of minimizing cost of production and maximizing productivity at the harvest period.

He acknowledged the system of data record of cost and activity as a good practice.

“We will continue with the new knowledge acquired from the Horti Nigeria and promise to step it down to other community members” Isa said

Speaking on behalf of the Okro planted by women group in Zakarawa community of Garko local government, the lead farmers, Binta Dahiru, commended Horti Nigeria for their intervention and promised to sustain the new method of farming.

“Our previous farming is a waste in terms of farm input and at the harvest period we only got a little farm produce while now we harvest more than we expect through this intervention.

“We can see the difference from our previous farming and the new one been introduced to us” Dahiru said