By Hadiza Musa Yusuf
Experts from The East-West Knowledge Transfer Foundation have advised farmers in Kano to embrace the practice of crop rotation on their farms in order to prevent diseases and maximize yields.
During a workshop organized on Sunday by Farmers Voice NG in Bunkure LGA, Kano, the experts also emphasized the importance of identifying the causes of diseases before implementing treatments.
Amina Ado, the Technical Field Officer from the East-West Knowledge Transfer Foundation, while speaking on “Pest and Disease Management,” highlighted how farmers themselves contribute to low yields and reduced production on their farms.
Ado explained that farmers often make the mistake of continuously planting the same crop, such as tomatoes, without considering the negative effects it can have on their farmlands.
To mitigate the spread of pests and diseases, Ado stressed the need for farmers to prioritize crop rotation.
“By rotating crops, farmers disrupt the life cycles of pests and reduce their survival rates.
“Some pests survive on a particular plant, and when you continuously plant the same crop every season, you are giving that pest a life,” she said.
Abdullahi Babayaro, representing the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, further emphasized the importance of preventive measures to ensure abundant harvests.
He advised farmers to avoid using chemicals during land preparation and clearing as they can weaken the soil.
“Prevention, they always say, is better than cure,” he said.
“During land preparation and land clearing, ensure using tractors or manually to help you in clearing the land, do not use chemicals as chemicals weaken the soil.”
He recommended the use of biological control methods such as applying neem oil, garlic, and ginger to the farm’s surface to deter pests from entering.
During his welcome address, the online Editor of Farmers Voice NG, Buhari Abba Rano, highlighted that the purpose of the training was to educate farmers on effective farming techniques that lead to high yields.
The workshop, titled “Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation, Greenhouse Crop Production, Pest and Disease Management of Tomatoes,” was organized in partnership with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Fombina Farms, and Fombina Imprints.
