ibironkeeniola Dr Paul Ilona, Country Manager, Harvestplus ( an international agricultural organisation), has called on farmers to ensure planting of quality cassava, maize and other seeds to obtain maximum yield. Ilona made the call on Monday at the 2019 Oyo State Seed Fair, organised by Harvestplus and the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP), in Ibadan. He said so long as farmers planted poor quality seeds, the country would not achieve effective diversification of the economy through agriculture.
He noted that diversification of the economy was necessary for growth. “To be great in farming, there are basic things farmers must do; the issue of planting improved seeds is so important because it will improve the country’s agricultural sector and project Nigeria as a great nation. Harvestplus partners have over 3,000 varieties of cassava, thousands of maize seeds; farmers are free to visit us, as they will surely have access to quality seeds to plant. Our cassava varieties can get you three tonnes to 70 tons for harvesting; before you apply fertiliser, pesticides, endeavor to plant quality seeds; if your seeds are not quality ones, efforts to control weeds may be in vain,” he said.
SOURCE: DAILY TRUST