The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University Kano (BUK), has distributed seeds and inputs to farmers in 22 host communities in Rimingado Local Government Area of Kano State.
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The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Yahuza Bello, made the disclosure at the inauguration of the seeds distribution exercise on Thesday in Kano.
Bello said the gesture was to assist the farmers affected by the COVID-19 lockdown and ameliorate their sufferings.
“The gesture is to ensure that seeds and inputs are available to the farmers, who no longer have to purchase the commodities for planting in the current cropping season.
“Most of the farmers must exhausted their savings on food during the recent lockdown aimed at stemming the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Bello urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the seeds to improved their productivity and increase income.
According to him, the centre is in the forefront of providing farmer support services aimed at encouraging application of modern farming techniques by small holder farmers.
Also speaking, Prof. Jibrin Jibrin, the Director of the Centre, said that the seeds and inputs were distributed to the farmers as part of its outreach activities.
Jibrin listed the benefiting communities to include Langel; Yarimawa, Janguza, Danguguwa, Doka, Kunyi and Gabari, among others.
He noted that the gesture would promote harmonious relationship between the institution and farmers as well as encourage application of modern technologies to achieve high yields.
He said that improved varieties of sorghum, groundnut, millet and soya beans seeds were distributed to the farmers, adding that the Centre would work with farmers to encourage agricultural activities.
Abdullahi Abubakar, one of the beneficiaries, commended the gesture, adding that it would go a long way to ease their difficulties in accessing seeds and other inputs.