The International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme on Thursday urged rice farmers in Taraba State to intensify efforts to enhance productivity and ensure food security.

The Head of the Knowledge Management Committee of VCDP in Taraba, Mr. Dauda Marafa, made the call during a learning visit to the dry-season rice farm of Malam Muniru Mafindi in Gassol.

Addressing farmers from Karim-Lamido, Donga, and Bali local government areas, Marafa encouraged them to adopt best practices from Mafindi, whom he described as a consultant in modern rice farming techniques.

“VCDP organized this learning visit to give you practical exposure to modern methods of establishing a dry-season rice farm for improved yields,” Marafa said.

He added that the State Programme Coordinator, Mr. Irimiya Musa, approved the visit to empower farmers with knowledge and skills for a brighter future.

Earlier, the Rural Institutions, Gender, and Youth Mainstreaming Officer of VCDP in the state, Mrs. Altine James, urged the farmers to maximise the opportunity to learn and apply best practices in their communities.

She noted that many of the visiting farmers had previously received training at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan under the VCDP Community Rice Seed Entrepreneurs program and were already making significant contributions to their communities.

According to her, Mafindi has distinguished himself by integrating innovative approaches into his rice farming operations. This achievement led VCDP to sponsor other farmers to learn directly from his expertise.

While conducting the visiting farmers and the VCDP team around his expansive farm, Mafindi explained that his skills in weed control, water reticulation, land selection, and timing have significantly improved since his training at IITA in 2017. His expertise has earned him recognition as a consultant for rice farms within and beyond Taraba State.

Our correspondent reports that the visiting farmers, including Peter Tenemu from Bali, Bello Sani from Donga, and Olivia David from Karim-Lamido, expressed their admiration for the quality and scale of Mafindi’s farm and pledged to implement the knowledge gained to enhance rice farming in their communities.

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