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Farmers in Niger State, particularly those in Katcha, Lapai, Wushishi and Gbako LGAs, have recorded bumper harvests in this year's rice farming season.

Daily Trust gathered that harvesting, which is still ongoing, has put smiles on the faces of farmers in those areas.

However, transporting their produce to markets remains a major challenge, especially for farmers in Katcha and surrounding communities, due to poor transport infrastructure.

Katcha market, the area's main trade hub, attracts farmers from within the state and neighbouring Kogi and Kwara states, who bring their rice for sale.

Traders said that on each market day, at least five trucks-each carrying 300 to 500 bags-transport paddy and milled rice out of the market.

But poor road networks linking rural communities where rice is cultivated make transportation difficult. As a result, many farmers rely on water transport, using boats to navigate the area's waterways. This mode of transport comes with significant risks, as frequent boat mishaps continue to claim lives and destroy goods.

Beyond transport challenges, farmers also lament that the falling price of paddy rice will make it difficult to recoup their investments. Some were forced to install solar panels to power water pumps, as the high cost of fuel has made generators unsustainable.

Farmers expressed frustration over the lack of intervention from both state and federal governments, despite their contributions to the country's food security.

Musa Kadiri, a farmer from Binna in Lapai LGA, confirmed the bumper harvest this dry season compared to last year. He called on the government to provide improved rice varieties, chemicals and fertilizers to help boost productivity.

'We engaged in dry season farming seriously this year and recorded high yield. But we have challenges, like the lack of solar systems to pump water regularly to the farms. Some farms that require three panels, you only struggle to install one because of cost. Also, the issue of fertiliser is a challenge.

'Those who applied meagro after fertilizers, recorded higher yields because if you don't apply meagro, beetles will eat up the root of the rice and prevent it from yielding well.

'We recorded high yield this year, but the price has dropped. In our area, a 100kg bag of paddy is between N48,000 and N50,000, but last year, at the start of the harvest period, we sold at N60,000.

'It cost us N450,000 to install the big solar panels, while the medium ones cost N400,000. Those who used generators to pump water to their rice farms spent more because you can't spend less than N35,000 on fuel for two days.

'Some people, because of the vastness of their farmlands, use two to three water pumping machines so that water can circulate well. But those who have two to three solar systems find it easier and record higher yields because water is always available in their rice farms.

'We want government intervention through subsidised fertilisers, chemicals, solar systems and improved rice varieties. We have large farmlands suitable for dry season farming but are constrained by the cost of inputs.

'We have never received any support from the government, either at the state or federal level. We recorded this bumper harvest through our individual efforts. No support has ever come to us from the government,' he explained.

Farmers in Katcha Local Government Area also recorded bumper harvest. Abdullahi Usman, a farmer and trader in Katcha market, confirmed the high yields across communities in Katcha and neighbouring local governments.

'We brought bags of rice from across to the market. But our major challenge is that we don't have any other means of transportation to convey our farm produce to the market except through water transport, especially passenger boats. Each time we experience a boat mishap, lives and goods are lost. It is a thing of concern to us.

'Many people cannot use life jackets because they are not readily available. You cannot even see them to buy in the market, and the government supply is insufficient,' he said.

Checks by our correspondent showed that both paddy and milled rice were cheaper in Katcha and other rural markets compared to Minna markets due to their proximity to farming communities.

Farmers in Katcha market told Daily Trust that a 100kg bag of paddy rice was sold at between N42,000 and N45,000, while a bag of milled rice went for N120,000 compared to N132,000 in Minna, the state capital.

Also speaking, Ibrahim Salihu said buyers of paddy and milled rice came from as far as Sokoto, Kwara, Abuja, and other areas outside Niger State.

'Katcha market is one of the biggest markets where farm produce, especially rice, are brought for sale. This market should be one of the three biggest farm produce markets in Niger State. We are surrounded by water, and goods are brought from every direction. Buyers come from as far as Kwara, Sokoto, Abuja.

'You will find dozens of trailers coming to load paddy rice here. The price of paddy rice has been fluctuating. Currently, it is sold at N42,000 to N45,000,' he said.

Fatima Mohammed, a trader, said women in the area have benefited greatly from the buying and selling of farm produce, especially rice.

'We gain a lot from buying and selling farm produce. It is our means of livelihood.

'But our major challenge is transportation. We use boats and canoes to bring goods to the market, and sometimes they are overloaded. A boat meant to carry 100 passengers sometimes carries beyond its capacity. But passengers also contribute to that, especially when they are in a hurry to arrive at the market early,' she said.

In Edozhigi, Gbako LGA, farmers are also celebrating bumper harvest this dry season.

Tauheed Dwale, a farmer, said, 'We thank Allah for the bumper harvest this year.'

While farmers in Edozhigi commended the federal government for accessing subsidised fertiliser that boosted their irrigation farming this year, they said no support was received from the Niger State Government.

Source : msn