Rice
By Aminu Garko
Kano State has ruled out genetically modified seeds, opting for climate-smart varieties to boost rice production.
Agriculture Commissioner Danjuma Mamud said the state will collaborate with CIRAD to introduce resilient seeds and modern techniques.
The initiative aims to increase output, reduce land pressure, and boost farmer productivity. Demonstration farms will test and showcase new varieties.
According to him, the state is exploring collaboration with CIRAD to introduce climate-resilient rice varieties and modern farming techniques.
“We had engagements with CIRAD on how to improve rice productivity per hectare using climate-smart seeds,” Mamud said.
“However, GMO seeds were ruled out for Kano farmers during the conference discussions.”
He explained that the planned initiative aims to significantly increase rice output while reducing pressure on land and other resources.
“At the moment, some farmers harvest between 50 and 60 bags per hectare,” he said. “With improved seeds and better practices, we believe production can increase up to three times.”
The commissioner said the state government plans to establish demonstration farms where the new seed varieties will be tested and showcased to farmers.
“The demonstration farms will allow farmers to see the performance of the seeds themselves before adopting them,” Mamud said. “This will help build confidence and encourage wider acceptance.”
He added that the state already has crop-mapping data that will guide the rollout of the programme across different farming zones in Kano.
“We have itemised our needs and shared them with the research institute,” Mamud said.
“Our next step is to translate the crop-mapping data into practical programmes that will directly benefit farmers.”
