FMAN Collaborates with CBN, Water Resources Ministry to Boost Wheat Farming

The Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) on Wednesday announced  plans to collaborate with Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and Federal Ministry of Water Resources to improve wheat farming and agricultural activities in Nigeria.

The Head of Wheat Development of  FMAN, Mrs Sarah Huber, gave the assurance in her welcome address at the  “FMAN Wheat Farmers Yield Championship”  and Presentation of Award in Kano.

Huber said that FMAN had played a leading role in wheat production in the country.

“We look forward to foster collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of  Water  Resources, CBN and at  the state level for next season to achieve something much greater,” she said.

According to her, the collaboration is necessary to improve farmers’ yields through high quality seeds, expanded extension services and improved access to irrigation.

“We will like to grow the programme significantly next season, we are still aggregating. We have 15 collection centres in Kano, Jigawa and Kebbi, providing training, threshing and direct offtake for 5,000 farmers,” Huber said.

She further explained that FMAN looked forward to working in more states by expanding agro programmes and aggregation, adding that large scale extension was needed across the country.

“We will also do a lot of programmes on seed production and research on expanding of seed varieties.”

She noted that in 2020, 1000 metric tones were harvested by the farmers while  in  2021, over 4,700 metric tones had so far been  harvested.

“FMAN will continue to support farmers with a view to boosting their annual output and reducing production cost,” she said.

Huber commended the CBN for providing improved seedlings in the country.

According to her,  FMAN will continue to encourage wheat farmers in production, improved seed supply, research and agronomy practices.

She called on the State Government and Ministry of Agriculture to invest in empowering extension agents with mobility  and more equipment to reach many farmers.

Huber disclosed that in the past four years,  FMAN had purchased over 11,500 tons of local wheat valued  at N1.5bn and established 100 hectares of wheat seed varietal testing and seed multiplication sites in Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna.

“FMAN donated 22,5000kg of seeds and 2,500 units of 3-inch water pumps to farmers,” she said.

Alhaji Wada Dayyabu, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, commended FMAN for supporting them with improved seedlings, loans and fertilisers.

“We are very grateful. Before FMAN, we didn’t have improved seedlings and we did not get enough money for our wheat productions,”  Dayyabu said.

Supreme reports that nine farmers were presented with gifts by FMAN; three each from Kano, Jigawa and Kebbi as the best performing out-growers.

The gift items included flour,  semovita, fertiliser, noodles, and 100kg of seed among others.