Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), has tasked the Federal Government on the need to revive non-functional dams and to rehabilitate damaged irrigation land across Nigeria.
According to them, by doing it, the government would encourage wheat production in the country.
Speaking during the launching of an upgraded MASC laboratory in Abuja recently, the Executive Secretary of FMAN, Alhaji Olalekan Saliu, said the dams and the irrigated land in the River Basins should be revived to encourage wheat farming as most dams in Nigeria are not functioning.
Saliu hapred on the need to provide farmers with quality wheat seeds to enhance good yields.
The FMAN President noted that despite investing huge funds to support wheat farmers and also off-take wheat farms in the country, there is still a large gap to be filled.
According to Saliu, “We are not disappointing the farmers, and they are very happy with us. They have the benefits of a guaranteed market, and when you have a guaranteed market and we pay reasonable prices, farmers you are happy.”
“We don’t have sufficient irrigated land, and this is where the government comes in. The private sector has a very little role to play. The major infrastructure which is required to provide irrigation is water dams.
“We have been providing water pumps for farmers, and have been supporting them with the little we have. Also, we have to talk about the sufficiency of quality seeds, and the question now is, do we have it available in Nigeria?
“If we really need to develop wheat in Nigeria, do we have the right variety, the high-yielding wheat variety which is heat resistant? If you don’t, you are wasting your time.
“We want to make farming attractive and profitable because they are practical economists. We want the farmers to retain and find the business profitable and sustainable, including seed development.”
On the laboratory, Saliu said his association assisted in upgrading the state-of-the-art Biotechnological laboratory, a seed testing molecular diagnostic facility which will help to enhance and upgrade NASC capacity to meet global standards.
“The FMAN is proud to be associated with NASC and we wish to reiterate that FMAN cherishes its partnership and collaboration with you for the milestone achievement, as we look forward to furthering engagements with the NASC in its quest to bring more viable and vibrant seed culture to Nigeria.
“I would like to add that FMAN will continue to collaborate with other key players within the Wheat Value Chain. It is our hope that the achievement of increased wheat production in Nigeria would be accomplished through the sustained cooperation and collaboration of all major stakeholders,” he said.
