Bayer Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, Germany, has trained over 250 lead farmers and extension officers on Bayer GAP and stewardship for agronomical practices in Sokoto State.
Speaking on the three-day training carried out in collaboration with the Sokoto State Agricultural Development Agency, the Bayer area sales manager, Mr. Emmanuel Folorunsho, said the purpose of the training was greatly achieved as the response from the trainees on the need to build personal protective equipment for their safe use was progressive, adding both the farmers and the extension officers were expected to make good use of the knowledge acquired on Bayer GAP and stewardship in their agribusinesses.
In his remarks, the director, agricultural services, Sokoto State, Mallam Malami Magaji, said the training created awareness on areas of agrochemical use and management of farm input which a significant number of the farmers were unaware of.
According to him, the sensitization carried out in three senatorial zones – Sokoto, Wurno and Tambuwal – gave them an insight into proper adoption of good agricultural practices using Bayer Nigeria products as what was formerly used by the farmers had a poor effect on their yields. He lauded Bayer Nigeria products saying the farmers have been greatly helped with the chemicals given to them.
“Most of these farmers have been using products that are not good for their crops, they spend more than 14 days expecting good yields after application only to realize they have wasted their time,” he added.
One of the extension officers, Abubakar Wurno, who benefited from the training, explained that the farmers who responded positively during the training also indicated their readiness to buy the Bayer Nigeria products for their agronomical and pharmaceutical benefits not exclusive to agribusiness owners but all-round users.
The extension officers, according to him, were responsible for guiding the farmers’ activities, adding one of the farmers who had used Bayer Nigeria products for eight years and for medicinal purposes with satisfactory effect, encouraged the other farmers to use the products.
Kabiru Ruwa, married and have three children, is among the lead farmers trained by Bayer Nigeria in the state. He has been farming full time for 16-17 years majorly for personal consumption said area of the training which covered the use of insecticides for pest control and diseases captured his interest most because his crops this year had poor yield.
A statement by Wandieville media project manager, Jane Ugochukwu, said Ruwa expressed determination to give Bayer products a try.
