Cotton farmers, buyers and handlers have called on the federal government to facilitate periodic improvement on cotton seedlings and solve problem of adulteration as measures to achieve maximum potential in the business.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, experts cautioned cotton farmers against adulteration of seed in order to ensure wider acceptance of the product in the commodity international market.
A farmer and agronomist, Dr Musatapha Maiwada-Daudawa, described stagnation on improving cotton seeds as an impediment to the growth of cotton farming, and noted that most farmers abandoned farming due to poor yield.
Maiwada-Daudawa, who is also the Human Resource Manager of West African Cotton Company Limited (WACOT), an agriculture input company in Funtua, Katsina State, said present cotton seed being planted were overdue for improvement.
He said SAMCOT-8, SAMCOT-9 and SAMCOT-10 seedlings were produced in 1979 while SAMCOT-11, SAMCOT-12 and SAMCOT -3 were products of 1989 and were widely planted by farmers and they accounted for poor yield.
The Agronomist added that cross mixture of cotton from different parts of Nigeria and outside also constituted a hitch to farming progress as various locations, land suitability and climatic changes differ for the seeds to grow.
Maiwada_Daudawa said care demarcation and areas of production were needed as ginneries and cotton buyers should stop mixing the cotton from various areas.
He further called for reintroduction of Cotton Control Board and stressed that the absence of the board endangered the business growth as cotton farmers were left at the mercy of dealers and buyers without proper classifications and grading system.
In his contribution, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azu-Isa, Human Resource Manager of Funtua Textile Limited (FTL), called on government to ensure continuity of cotton chain value programmes.
Mu’azu-Isa reiterated that cotton adulterations, mixture and the lack of guaranteed pricing have led to the poor cotton production that provides jobs to millions of Nigerians as well as revenue to government.
He explained that efforts of textiles, ginneries and agro allied processing firms to store genuine seeds were frustrated by farmers and buyers who continue to adulterate the cotton because they want heavier weight.
Mu’azu-Isa said cotton was placed on discount rates at the international market due to the associated adulterations, and this has hindered cotton business.
Alhaji Lawal Sani-Matazu, the Chairman of Katsina State Cotton Buyers and Producers Association, commended the present administration in restoring the lost glory of cotton business and other agricultural production.
Sani-Matazu said his union was ready to embrace all genuine programmes toward ensure increased production and called on multinational companies and as well as indigenous ones to liaise with real players in the sector and not political farmers.
Mu’azu-Isa appealed to the federal ministry of agriculture to deploy modern cotton farming practices to ensure quality cotton to prevent the reported cases of cotton adulteration.
According to him, farmers often adulterate the cotton with water, sand dust, wood, metallic objects and other items to increase its weight.
Alhaji Lado Mairuwa, Chairman of out-grower union in Faskari local government area, the urged government to facilitate strategies at enhancing the quality and pricing of the commodity. (NAN)
