Farmers Seek FG’s Support To Boost Production

Jetropha farmers have called
on the Federal Government to subsidise farm inputs for them to enable them to increase production of the plant.
The Secretary, Jetropha Farmers Association based in Plateau, Mr Luka Kefas made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
Kefas said the subsidy of farm inputs such as fertiliser and agro-chemicals would encourage more farmers to cultivate the flowering plant on a large scale in view of its economic value.
“Jetropha can diversify our economy if we are serious and if the government can give us support to do the production
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to give us support in terms of subsidy in the area of inputs, fertiliser, the agro chemicals and even the seeds.
“We need improved varieties to step up our production.
“And at the National level also, we should have more of the off-takers, those that will buy our seeds.’’
Kefas noted that crude oil used in producing diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and petrol as well as organic fertiliser, livestock feeds and soap are derivatives of jetropha.
There are more than 175 species of jetropha all of which are found to be of significant economic importance.
It is used to produce bio-fuel which can be an alternative to diesel.
The plant can also serve as wind breakers, shelter belts to curb flooding, desertification and erosion.
According to him, jetropha is one of the crops that can be planted on a marginal land across the country.
He said the production of the crop was cheaper when compared with food crops and could easily be managed.
Kefas, who explained that the association has more than 100 members in Plateau, said that each of them cultivated nearly half hectare of the plant annually.
The secretary, however, appealed to young farmers in the rural areas to take advantage of the vast land in their respective localities to cultivate the plant, saying that it will enable them to earn additional income.