The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has distributed free anti-fungal chemicals to onion growers in Bauchi and Borno states to boost onion production. This in turn should increase the export of this product.
Mrs Oje Imoje of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has stated that the ministry decided to intervene to make sure there will not be a repeat of last year’s situation, when onions were destroyed by fungal infections on the farms.
She told guardian.ng: “It was sad that onion farmers suffered a loss through the disease. We could not produce what we Nigerians wanted, not to talk of exportation. We are organising this workshop to enlighten them on how this experience could be managed. We are giving this input free to them to boost their production. We are expecting them to produce what can be exported.”
Bauchi State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Iliya Daniel said that the farmers were selected through their associations to benefit.