The Flour Mills Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has provided support to more than 8,000 farmers in Jigawa State, enabling them to cultivate 5,000 hectares of wheat. This initiative aims to enhance local production, contributing to national food security and fostering self-reliance.
Dr. Samaila Aliyu, the program manager for FMAN Wheat Development, disclosed this information during the “Green Field Day,” an event organized for stakeholders to visit farms and directly engage with farmers.
He highlighted that the purpose of the event was to showcase to stakeholders and the general public the feasibility and achievability of wheat production in Nigeria. With ongoing developments in the sector, Dr. Aliyu expressed confidence that the country possesses the necessary resources to achieve self-sufficiency in the near future.
“FMAN believes that with genuine commitment from all stakeholders, Nigeria can become a wheat exporter in the nearest future.
“FMAN is currently collaborating with farmers, governments, research institutes, traditional leaders, the media and general the public in supporting wheat production in 17 states of the federation.
“What we are seeing now at Yandutse village of Ringim local government of Jigawa State is clear evidence of FMAN’s efforts to encourage domestic wheat production for self-reliance, job creation, poverty eradication, growth and development,” he stated.
FMAN commended the Jigawa State governor, Malam Umar Namadi for his commitment in supporting wheat production in the state and Nigeria in general.
Chairman of Wheat Farmers Association, Jigawa State, Malam Mujtaba Bayi thanked FMAN for its support and intervention which encouraged many people to join wheat farming in the state and also contributed in making Jigawa State to become a leading wheat production state in Nigeria.
One of the women farmers in Yandutse village, Hajiya Naima Alhassan said, the FMAN support, which includes provision of improved/certified seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and enlightenment on modern techniques of farming, has built her capacity to expand her production from less than a quarter hectare to one hectare now.
