Rice farmers participating in the Bakolori Irrigation Project in Talata Marafa, Zamfara, have called for more support for their efforts to adopt innovation in rice cultivation so as to boost their productivity.
Alhaji Muhammadu Danmaliki, the Chairman of Bakolori Rice Farmers Association, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Talata Mafara.
Danmaliki said that farmers were embracing the innovation with optimism because of the way which modern technology had addressed some of the challenges in their current rice farming methods.
He said that farmers, who were engaged in the Bakolori project, had been facing a number of challenges which had resulted in low yields.
He, however, noted that the System for Rice Intensification Technology, which was recently introduced by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), had provided practical solutions to most of their challenges.
Danmaliki said that the farmers were ready to strengthen their cooperation with the research institute so as to ensure success of the innovation.
He stressed that the success of the innovation was tantamount to the success of the rice farmers, as it would enhance their productivity.
Danmaliki assured the IAR of the continued support of Bakolori Irrigation Project farmers for efforts to improve rice production.
