– plus ‘How to improve wheat farming in Nigeria’
As the global demand for wheat is increasing, wheat farming in Nigeria has continued to witness a decline, as farmers kept boycotting it, especially in the states where it is produced in large quantities.
Farmers are attributing the decline in wheat to the poor yields they get every year. Unlike before, the farmers said they hardly get half of what they are expecting from it despite spending much to farm the crop.
Read Also: Farmers Guide: Simple ways to grow wheat
The Russian-Ukrain war has posed a great challenge to wheat production and supply across the entire globe, making it necessary for all stakeholders to use diverse means of local production to fill the deficit.
Wheat is one of the world’s most essential staple crops, providing essential carbohydrates and nutrients for a significant portion of the global population. To ensure successful wheat production and maximize yields, it is crucial to implement best practices in wheat management throughout the growing season.
A survey on wheat production in Nigeria, published by the Leadership Hausa in the last two years, said the production has reduced from 600 to 400 thousand tons as of 2022.
In the last season of the wheat, farmers in the Kura local government area of Kano state, one of the largest producers of wheat in the north, said they haven’t recovered their capital from the crop. They rather counted losses.
Speaking to Agro Climate News, a wheat farmer in the area, Abubakar Yusuf, said the majority of them are now considering tomatoes or maize as an alternative to wheat.
“Our frequent loss in wheat farming during the last year’s season is attributed to a poor variety (seed), which was widely used by the farmers.
“This and many other reasons are forcing us out of the wheat. Though it’s more secure in terms of yields than tomato, we’d rather go for it (tomatoes) or maize,” he said.
Similarly, farmers from Jigawa state, another wheat-producing area, lamented over poor harvest, which they said is due to issues relating to support from the government.
Read Also: Flooding in Nigeria: A case of climate change or governmental failure?
Speaking to RFI Hausa, the farmers said despite the high cost of fertilizer, petrol and diesel, the government also failed to provide the needed intervention for them in the wheat farming sector.
The Secretary to the Jigawa Wheat Farmers Association, Surakatu Muhammad Ýan Dutse, said failure to bring the improved variety on time is also contributing to the menace.
How to Improve Wheat Farming in Nigeria
From the voices of the farmers who spoke to AgroClimateNews, we gathered some tips on how to successfully improve wheat farming in Nigeria. They are as follows:
1. Intensifying research in providing improved wheat varieties just like in the case of rice farming
2. Providing farmers with improved seed before planting time, and at affordable prices
3. Providing subsidy and non-interest loans to wheat farmers and processors
4. Providing subsidized quality fertilizer and other inputs
5. Reducing the cost of petrol and diesel for wheat farmers
6. Providing adequate security personnel where necessary to guarantee a safer environment and working conditions for farmers
Agro Climate News
