Leadership (Abuja)

Nigeria: Company Establishes 40 Demonstration Cotton Farms in Katsina State

6 October 2008

The West African Cotton Company (WACOT) has established 40 demonstration farms in Katsina State to train cotton farmers on modern techniques.

Mr Dihandeo Rahane, WACOT Agricultural Officer in charge of Extension Services, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Katsina that the farms were located in Malumfashi, Faskari, Funtua and Batsari local governments.

Rahane said the company had trained the farmers on how to improve their harvest and distributed 15,000 bags of improved cotton seeds and fertilisers to 500 rural cotton farmers this year.

According to him, the company also planned to promote science based agricultural practices as well as encourage modern techniques.

"The programme is set to achieve increased production through proper awareness on enhanced practices as agriculture constituted more than 30 per cent of Nigeria 's economy," Rahane said.

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Malam Sirajo Malumfashi, expressed optimism that cotton farmers would record a bumper harvest this year.

Malumfashi told NAN that a bag of cotton was sold for between N900 and N1000. (NAN)

Tagged: Agribusiness, Food and Agriculture, Business, Nigeria, West Africa

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