Vegetable Farmers Laud HortiNigeria Project After Bumper Harvest

Vegetable Farmers in Kano have expressed happiness over new techniques they have been introduced to by the Horticultural project in the state as they gain bumper harvests since the initiative in the last four years.

Speaking to journalists at the end of a two-week Horticultural week in Kano on Wednesday, farmers at Dawakin Kudu stated that the new methods are simple but productive.

“My name is Mahmud Isa, I am a farmer here at Birnin Kudu. Since we started partnering with these projects, we have gotten less pest attacks on our plants.

“I got some plants from the nursery and replanted them using the methods they introduced us to for trial. It was difficult at first because it is different from what we had in the past.

“My name is Abubakar Dayyabu. It is now two years since I started partnering with the Horticulture Nigeria project.

“We bought our seeds from them and they taught us how to plant it, which is different from the way we used to do it. Even the method of watering the plants is different.

“I will say these new methods are easier and better. They have introduced us to this method of using strings which we never knew before. It is used to make the plant grow better, faster and give more yield.

“In this farm here I have spent about N300,000 in all, buying seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and others. We are expecting a very big harvest.

He called on youths, especially, to also engage in farming because it is a very profitable venture, especially using these new methods.

“I want to call on youth to come and learn these methods. Already there are some of my friends that have shown interest and are soon going to join us. We are using this opportunity to thank the project for all the efforts and sacrifice.

No fewer than 50,000 smallholder farmers in Kano and Kaduna states have been trained in eco-efficient vegetable production in the last four years.

The beneficiaries were trained under a project founded by the Embassy of the Netherlands and conducted by HortiNigeria to enhance vegetable production.

The team leader, Aliyu Abdullahi, also the manager of the learning site at Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, told newsmen that the project which started in 2021, is due to finish in 2025 if there is no extension.

“We started in 2021, and it will last until 2025. So far, we have trained approximately 50,000 farmers in Kano and Kaduna states.

“We trained them on eco-efficient vegetable production, ranging from high breed seed, healthy seedling production, mulching, and various other things that have to do with climate smart agriculture, specifically vegetable production” he said.