Bauchi FarmersTo Cultivate 2,500 Hectres Of Sesame

The Bauchi State Agricultural Development Authority (BSADA), says more than 2,500 hectares of sesame would be cultivated by sesame farmers in the state during the 2012 cropping season.

The Programme Manager of the authority, Dr Aliyu Gital, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Bauchi.

Gital said that more than 100 tonnes of sesame were produced in 2010 and 2011 by various groups of farmers in the state, while millions of naira were realised from the sale of the commodity.

“This year, we are planning that we are going to use 1,500 hacters of Sesame, because the Bank of Industries is in collaboration with one farmer organisation.

“They are negotiating with that organisation to ensure that they facilitate the production of 1,500 hectare of Sesame, this is a special project.

“Then OLAM Nig Ltd which has been in serious business with Bauchi State is also saying that they are also going to promote the production of 1,000 HA of Sesame apart from the 1,500 hectares.

“So if you add up is about 2,500 hectares and that is not all about the end of negotiation, because some people who have found out that Bauchi has high potential of Sesame production are coming to Bauchi to promote the cultivation of the commodity.

“By promotion, they are going to bring good quality seeds and subsidise to farmers so that farmers will not complain of lack of seeds, so we are also gearing up towards producing Sesame.’’