Farmers in Jigawa state have expressed willingness to shulder payment of extension workers’ allowance at the end of Fadama III programme, a World Bank supported agricultural project in the state.
This was disclosed by one of the farmers and a beneficiary of Fadama III programme, who only gave his name as Mohammed saying, the increased recorded in terms of yield per hectare of rice farm was encouraging and that was as a result of technical advice from the extension workers.
According to him, in the past most farmers realized only two to three tons per hectare of rice but with Fadama III intervention, the yield had increased up to 6.5 tons per hectare.
While fielding questions from newsmen, the leader of the World Bank Task Team that visited the state for assessment of the Fadama programme, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, predicted increase in rice and sorghum production in the state.
Dr. Oredipe further stated that he was not surprise with the success recorded in the state saying, the state was not only up to date in the payment of its counter fund but also supported the programme with all required logistics.
“During one of the field trip, farmers assured the World Bank that at the end of the Fadama programme they are willing to pay, from the little money they are making, for the services of the extension workers and consultants.”
