For this reason, no stone has been left unturned in the value chain of rice production as farmers continued to utilise each phase to maximise profit.

At VitalisTarnongu’s farm, the breeder seeds for foundation would be due for harvesting in the next two weeks.

The farm, situated at the bank of River Benue, inside the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, uses irrigation to boost dry season rice seed production.

Tarnongu said what he did with Faro 44 breeder’s seed planted in a portion of the 1,000 hectares field was to multiply them into foundation seeds to become certified for farmers’ purchase.

“At this level it will be harvested as multiplication seeds, then replanted to produce certified seeds, which can now be planted by the majority of farmers to become grain for companies or individuals to buy and process for consumption.

“The rice seeds usually undergo three stages to become grain – from being breeder seeds to multiplication (foundation) seeds, then certified seeds (which is regulated by the seed council). Then farmers will purchase the seeds to produce grain in a larger quantity.

“On this farm, we are using irrigation because it is dry season. The duration of the seed maturity is 90 days. What you see on this farm is a Faro 44 breeder’s seed not up to a ‘mudu’ measurement, which we raised on a nursery bed for 20 days and transplanted by one foot apart; and it is doing very well.

“As it is right now, we are hoping to harvest 80 bags of 100kg per hectare; and multiplying this with the number of hectares cultivated so far would yield bountiful income,” he said.

Tarnongu said his plants were rid of any challenge of diseases as such things were taken care of with appropriate requirement from the early stage until its present level.

For birds or other insects which should have been a source of worry, the rice farmer said his 24-hour standby security men took charge of such concerns. However, he wants financial assistance from the government to further boost his quest for expansion in both field and equipment.

“From the revenue generated on this farm, I have over 100 workers to pay salaries. If I had small push from the government we would move forward and engage the youth, which will roaming the streets.

“As at now, I am singlehandedly carrying the load of this farm. I want to also appeal to the new government, both at the state and federal level, to pay attention to insecurity to avert the danger ahead because we are producing food,” Tarnongu concluded.

A young rice farmer, Olikita Ikani, who participated in this year’s season farming, said it was a lucrative experience on his seven-hectare field.

Ikani, who has prepared for another rice farm in the expected wet season, encouraged young people to venture into rice production.

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Source: Daily Trust 

https://dailytrust.com/how-rice-farmers-are-creating-wealth-in-benue/