Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe

The Gombe State Government has advised local farmers in the state to embrace the new farming technologies introduced by the Sasakawa Global 2000 to boost their productivity.

The Director, Extension Services in the state Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Sunday Lah, gave the advice when the Country Director, Sasakawa Global 2000, Prof. Sani Ahmed-Miko, visited Pobawure Maize Milling Centre in Billiri Local Government area of the state on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Milling machine was given to a farmer under a private partnership arrangement to pay for the plant within three years.

“Sasakawa Global 2000 has been consistent in its various intervention programmes and we have seen positive results in the farming technologies they introduced to our farmers.

“We must graduate from our traditional way of farming for improved productivity, for enhanced agricultural production and better yield,”Lah said.

He also advised farmers in the state to establish cooperative societies to enable them to seek for government’s assistance or loan facility from financial institutions.

He commended extension workers in the state for their resilience and commitment toward assisting farmers with relevant and meaningful advice on new farming technologies introduced by the organisation.

“The Sasakawa Global 2000 has been doing a great job. It is working with the extention workers from the Agricultural Development Authority (ADP) through the State Government,” he said.

The Proprietor of the plant, Mr John Yakubu, said no fewer than six villages were benefiting from the two plants as they saved many villagers from traveling to far places to mill their maize.

“Before now, all the villagers had to travel to the local government headquarters, about 12 kilometers away, to mill their maize, corn or any other commodity, but now they can just trek a few metres to have their grains milled,” Yakubu said.

He said he had also been able to employ about 10 people who were working with the plant, including mechanics and operators.

In his remarks, the County Director, SG 2000, Prof. Sani Ahmed-Miko, commended the proprietor of the milling plant for his commitment toward the maintenance of the processing plants.

NAN reports that the SG 2000 team was in the state in continuation of the media field day tour organised by the organisation to meet with local farmers and other beneficiaries of its various intervention programmes.