Why Silvex is investing in farm estate in Jigawa, Nasarawa

A Kano based agri-business company, Silvex International said it is investing in farm estate, for its newly introduced farm estate program in Jigawa and Nasarawa states.

The project, according to the Managing Director of the company, Abubakar Usman Adam is aimed at bridging gaps in food production efficiency amidst climate change challenges.

He was speaking in Kano on Monday at a symposium organised by Bayero University, Kano Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) in partnership with his company and British government supported LINKS program.

He said, “Currently in Jigawa, we are targeting 5,000 hectares, 3,000 has already been identified. In Nasarawa state we are targeting 15,000 hectares with our partners and the state government and currently there is 5,000 on ground that we are starting.

“Our objective is to create a topnotch quality seeds, and that cannot be achieved in the farmers’ farmers because they are small in size and the efficacy related to the seeds procedures.

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“We went to create a new generation farmers as today many youths believe that farming is not a viable venture for them, but we are now changing the narrative by engaging in various agric value chains,” the chairman added.

Adam explained that the farm estate project is the only game changer in the move to ensuring food security amidst current global challenges.

Earlier speaking virtually at the symposium, the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Mansur Bako Matazu attributed the environmental challenges of flood, changes in onset and cessation of rain, drought are all by-products of climate change.

Speaking on the topic: “The 2021 growing season: Focus, realities and the role of NIMET, the DG said most states in the country have experienced below normal rainfall this year,  which he said has already been predicted by his agency for farmers to take appropriate measures.

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The symposium according the CDA Director, Professor Jibrin Muhammad Jibrin was organised to review climate change issues at they affect northern Nigeria with a view to presenting them to policymakers for appropriate actions to be taken.