Firm Donates 1, 500 Bags of Fertilizer to Katsina Farmers

Tag : fertilizer
Firm Donates 1, 500 Bags of Fertilizer to Katsina Farmers

Hassan a Karofi
Released : Monday, November 03, 2008 3:13 AM
Kano, Nov 03, 2008 (Daily Trust/All Africa Global Media via COMTEXNews Network) -- As part of its corporate social responsibilitydrives, an agricultural firm, OLAM Nigeria limited has distributed1,500 bags of fertilizers to over 500 farmers in Katsina state.
Disclosing this to newsmen in Kano, the System ExtensionCoordinator of the company, Mr Iornenge Imah Basil said thefertilizer and 500 liters of pesticides and insecticides weredistributed in order to assist in controlling pests in the state.
Basil said that the beneficiaries cut across local governments suchas Batsari, Batagarawa, Dutsinma, Safana and Kankia, adding thatthe distribution were carried out based on the standardrecommendations by the federal department of agriculture.
He said the company is determined to enhance capacity building andvalue addition to the Nigerian farmers through necessary supports.
Basil who was speaking on behalf of Olam's extension manager inNigeria , Mr Yogbal added that under the fertiliser and pesticidessupport scheme, Olam intends to expand the out grower programme toabout 2000 farmers next year.
He also disclosed that Olam has already embarked on free sesameseeds distribution in Katsina state adding that under theinitiatives, seeds of 4 kg bags per head have been distributed to2000 farmers across the state.
He further disclosed that Olam, in collaboration with katsina stategovernment through the state agricultural and rural developmentauthority has offered technical support by training trainers onfarm extension services to farmers in the state.
"We have already through collaboration with KTARDA organised andtrained the farmers on various improved technology of sesameproduction such as site and varietal selection, land preparation,planting operation, pest (weed, insects and diseases) control andsafe use of pesticides, harvest and post-harvest crop handling.
"The result of which have reflected in the increase in the averageoutput per hectare of crops to over 50 percent significantdifferences when compared with available records of some previousagronomic years", he said.
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Keywords:
Agriculture , Food & Beverage , Middle Eastern & African Agriculture , Food & Beverage , Agrochemicals , Agriculture Machinery & Technology , Business News , Chemicals , Agriculture , Top World News , Africa , West Africa , Nigeria