Groundnut farmers in Bauchi State have called for support from the Federal Government in the area of farm inputs to boost groundnut production in the state.

They made the call during the distribution of 100 litres of cypermethrin insecticides to groundnut farmers by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Definitely (FMARD), on Thursday in Bauchi.

The farmers identified lack of enough lands, improved varieties and non-availability of groundnut seeds, insecticides, pests and capital as some of the factors hindering groundnut production.

Malam Mohammmed Ibrahim, Chairman, National Groundnut Producers, Processors and Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (NGPPMAN), appealed for consideration of groundnut farmer in CBN’s anchor borrowers’ programme to improve their growing capacity.

According to him, Nigeria can earn significant revenue in groundnut oil, if priority is accorded groundnut production.

Another groundnut farmer, Mr Eric Maigida, said that the federal government should support farmers with inputs and educate them on mechanised farming.

“Groundnut farmers need to be updated at intervals in order to encourage them and enhance their production capacity.

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Maigida, however, commended the federal government for building their capacity, stressing that he had learnt a lot from the training and that he would put into practice.

Also speaking, Mrs Salamatu Mohammmed, said that the knowledge acquired from the training would go a long way in improving groundnut processing and production.

“I learned how to use fertilizer, the type of soil to grow crops as well as the use of insecticides in the farms,” she said.

Hajia Zainab Fika, an Assistant Director with FMARD and desk officer for groundnut value chain, said that the programme was aimed at addressing the challenges confronting the sub-sector and the constraints of groundnut farming in the country.

“The ministry distributed 100 litres of cypermethrin insecticides to the farmers to support crop growing in their farms.

“The training is very important, especially at this time when Nigeria’s groundnut is suffering outright rejection from the foreign market,” she said.

Fika urged the farmers to apply the knowledge acquired to boost groundnut production.