Maureen Ojinaka
Enugu, – Mr Fidelis Ozor, Deputy Director, Agric Services, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture has urged farmers to always purchase seeds for planting from the ministry to avoid financial loss.
Ozor gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.
He said that seeds acquired by the ministry were meant for farmers to buy at subsidised rates.
According to him, the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture acquires from the Federal Government approved agricultural research institutes, depending on the crops involved.
He noted that the ministry often received seeds from the various research institutes so as to provide farmers with healthy seeds for planting.
Ozor said that the agricultural research institutes were located in various states of the country.
He noted that the institutes include National Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin; National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike; and Cocoa Research Institute, Ibadan, among others.
Ozor cautioned farmers against buying seeds from agricultural seeds hawkers as they could sell unhealthy seeds to them.
“I always warn farmers to come to the state agric ministry to get their seeds because what we have are hybrid seeds which are improved seeds that are given out at subsidised rates.
“Buying from individuals who go about marketing agric seeds that may end up not producing quality produce will definitely lead to financial loss and time wasted,’’ he said. (NAN)
