Rice farmers optimistic of bumper harvests in Katsina

Alhaji Shuaibu Kafur, Katsina State Chairman of Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN), said on Thursday that rice farmers in the state were optimistic of recording bumper harvests this year.

Kafur said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina, that farmers would reap abundant yields at the end of the season.

“The state rice farmers have invested a lot of funds to cultivate the commodity as it has become the nation’s staple food.

“With the support of the Central Bank and Katsina State Government, we cultivate rice in large quantity in our various farms across the state.

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“Our Association has assisted the members to procure an improved variety of rice seeds, enough fertilizer and pesticides for 2019 farming season,’’ he said.

According to him, the rice farmers were encouraged to cultivate highland Caroline rice seedlings to avoid becoming victims of flooding.

“We made sure that very few persons cultivated the Fadama variety of rice as it has a lot of risks attached to it,” he said.

The chairman called on those whose rice farms were ready for harvesting not to start selling the commodity after processing.