NIHORT distributes improved vegetable seeds to farmers


National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, on Thursday distributed high-quality vegetable seeds to more than 100 farmers in Ibadan.
The seeds were given free-of-charge to the farmers.
Dr Lawrence Olajide-Taiwo, the Director of Research, NIHORT, told NAN that the seeds were Amaranth (large green black seed), Okra-NH47-4 (Okro) and Ewedu (Angbadu).

“In all, we have 3kg. of each of the three seeds to distribute; the 100 farmers are from 20 communities around Idi-Ishin, Apata and Odo-Ona areas, among others; we selected them through Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) farmers,” he said.
Olajide-Taiwo said that the project aimed at sensitising farmers to vital food security and nutrition issues, while encouraging them to establish home vegetable gardens.

“This is the second of its kind in 2017; after giving them seeds today, we expect them to plant the seeds and start their own gardens.
“They can plant anywhere; they can even use micro-gardens (planting seeds in containers, tins, cups or bags) if they don’t have enough land.
“From the micro garden, they can also get fresh vegetables,” he said.
The director pledged that the institute would continue to assist farmers with good quality seeds that were suitable for planting.
“After some time, we will go and check what they have done with the seeds we gave to them today; as time goes on, we plan to reach more farmers.
“We have outstations in Imo and Kano states where we have also sensitised farmers to the benefits of owning home gardens; we plan to also distribute seeds to them,” he said.

Olajide-Taiwo, however, advised the farmers to adopt good agricultural and agronomic practices that would enable them to get good yields.

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