Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) has said that lack of improved seeds forced farmers in Gombe State to abandon their initial plans of cultivating 10,000 hectares of wheat farms in the state.

Speaking in Gombe recently, the state WFAN Chairman, Batari Dauda, also lamented that post-harvest losses, lack of quality seeds and other inputs as well as non-availability of farming implements are part of key factors hindering wheat production in the country.

He stated: “Our cultivation is limited by lack of quality seeds and farming implements. Most of our farmers complained that the available seeds have been planted and replanted for over five years. This has resulted in deterioration in terms of crop quality, as the crop yield will not be good.”

However, he bemoaned that good quality seeds, when available, are not enough for distribution to the farmers.

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He explained: “Initially, Lake Chad Research Institute brought us foundation seeds but the problem we had then was that the seeds, which were of good quality, were not sufficient. Those farmers who were able to plant the crop early enough harvested three to four tonnes on each hectare of farmland, while those that planted late realised between one and two tonnes per hectare.”

While exhorting wheat farmers to always patronise certified seed producers, Dauda blamed the high prevalence of sub-standard wheat seeds in the country to preference for roadside dealers over registered agro-inputs dealers by farmers.

He, therefore, called on the federal and state governments to intervene in efforts to boost wheat production in order to meet local demands.

He urged the Federal Government to show seriousness in its quest to diversify the country’s economy through agriculture.