Kano — An agricultural company, Olam Nigeria Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme with the aim of boosting Sesame farming and improving the production of the crop in the state, the company's manager, Mr. Adamu Bello, has said.

 

Mr. Bello, who spoke to journalists in Kano, disclosed that the company has continued its programme in which farmers are assisted with fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides on loan to be repaid at the end of the harvest period.

 

He said that about a hundred farmers have benefitted from the out-grower programme, while 1,000 others have benefited from the free sesame seeds distribution across the state.

 

"A four kilogramme bag of improved sesame seeds for free have been distributed to each farmer and each of the four kilogramme bags covers one hectare of land, which means the 1,000 farmers that benefitted would cover 1,000 hectares in the state," he said.

 

He said that the company has also sponsored a training programme for farmers to acquire skills in modern method of sesame farming in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development.

 

Source : allafrica.com