Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Stephen Barko, has said that the state government would establish 100 hectares of seeds multiplication farms.

Barko, who disclosed this in Jos when he presided over a meeting with some officials of the ministry, Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP), Fadama III and Cassava Growers Association, Plateau state chapter, said that the seeds multiplication farm was to generate seeds to be given to farmers, free of charge, for the massive cultivation of cassava in Plateau state.

Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Stephen Barko, has said that the state government would establish 100 hectares of seeds multiplication farms.

Barko, who disclosed this in Jos when he presided over a meeting with some officials of the ministry, Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP), Fadama III and Cassava Growers Association, Plateau state chapter, said that the seeds multiplication farm was to generate seeds to be given to farmers, free of charge, for the massive cultivation of cassava in Plateau state.

He explained that when fully operational, the processing industry would be producing 50 tons of starch a day and there was need to prepare ahead of time.

He said that the 100 hectares of the multiplication farm would produce cassava cuttings that would be planted in 1000 hectares by farmers, adding that the farms would be located in different parts of the state. He pointed out that 51 hectares would be in the southern zone, 30 hectares in Central and 19 hectares in the northern zone.

Barko added that the ministry, in collaboration with PADP, Fadama III and cassava farmers, would work together to achieve the objectives.
He explained, “To kick start, we need cassava cuttings to set up the multiplication farm and farmers are the ones to supply the seeds. About 500 bundles of one metre of cassava cuttings are needed for the 100 hectares of the multiplication farm and 5000 bundles are needed for the 1000 hectares.”

Barko, who described the development as a win-win situation for farmers, said the ministry would be buying the cuttings from farmers to plant in the multiplication farms and later give it to them free of charge, adding, “We will be buying a bundle of the cassava cuttings at the cost of N250 and we are calling on those who have them to bring them to the areas we have designated for the purpose. We are just starting at home; we intend to reach out to farmers in Nasarawa state and Southern Zaria in Kaduna state, to mobilize them to feed the company.”
He stressed that Fadama III would provide the farmers with the requisite training and would work with the ministry to help farmers get soft loans from financial institutions for effective development of the programme.

In his remark at the event, Chairman, Cassava Growers Association in Plateau State, Mr. Bawa Tsenlong, expressed delight over government’s gesture, saying it was the first time government was including them in its programmes.

Tsenlong added that with the new development, members would triple the quantity needed for the industry by putting in their best in the cultivation of cassava in the state, noting that “The moment we get back home, we will call our members and inform them on the development and we’ll immediately swing into action.”

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Plateau establishes 100 Hectares Casava Multiplication farms in the Northern, Southern and Central Senatorial Zones