*IAR urges Nigerian farmers to embrace modern technology
By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Executive Director, Institute For Agricultural Research (IAR) Prof Muhammad Faguji Ishiyaku has called on Nigerians to embrace modern agricultural technology to improve livelihood and disregard calls from people who do not have knowledge of science and genetic engineering.
Prof. Faguji Ishiyaku who made the call at the Farmers Field Day held at Kakangi Village in Giwa Local Government Area during the “Seeing is Believing” tour of the TELA Maize hybrids evaluated for resistance to stem borers and fall armyworm.
He said, “Those people unnecessarily discourage farmers from accessing the benefits accruing from such technology.”
The director stressed that, the institute in its 100 years of existence, has continuously churned out research results and technology relevant to Nigeria’s climate, which produces positive results.
Professor Faguji Ishiyaku urged Nigerians to be enlightened on the benefits of adopting technologies developed and released for the common good of Nigerian farmers.
In his remarks, the Principal Investigator of the project, Professor Rabiu Adamu said the demonstration farm is for farmers across to see and judge the quality of the maize for them to adopt it.
Professor Rabiu Adamu added that, there are 150 demonstration farms across the country all for farmers to see and access it yield.
He pointed out that five demonstration farms have taken place in Kakangi Village four farms are TELA Maize seeds, while one demonstration farm is the farmers seed and they received the same process and treatment.
The Principal Investigator said, with this success, by next year, Nigerian farmers will use Tela Maize in their farms for better yield.
Also speaking, the Maize Farmers Association Chairman Kaduna State, Alh. Kabiru Salihu assured the institute that they will use Tela Maize in the next farming season.
