DAILY TRUST
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Star Feature Kila is a village in Gwaram Local Government area of Jigawa state. Like any other village, the community is made up of farmers. However, these are unique farmers because apart from the cultivation of grains such as millet and corn for their domestic use, all men in the village are cassava growers. From Yusha'u AIbrahim, Dulse HENEVER a visitor approaches Kila village, the first thing that will welcome him/her is cassava. It could be seen spread on both sides of the highway (Kano-Birnin-Kudu highway) that passes through the village. Farmers spread it along the road for drying, before packing it in bags. A recent visit to the village by Daily Trust Correspopdent indicated that it has become a tradition that an average Kila man residing in the village must, in one way or the other, be involved in cassava farming. Both old and young men in the community are committed to cassava growing for income generation. Daily Trust observed that yhr cultivation of cassava has become a major job in Kila village. An average man can cultivate ten and above cassava farms per annum. It was also observed that academicians. civil servants, politicians and Islamic scholars are growers of cassava in Kila village. Although some people in the community do cultivate Mango, however cassava farming is the major occupation oflhe people in the village. • Investigations by Daily Trust revealed that 80 per cent of the
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Kila community are cassava growers. Alhaji Nura Abdullahi is a politician; and indeed a Kil. ward------~'--'.." Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite his political activities, Nura is a cassava farmer. He told Daily Trust that he is presently cultivating thirteen different cassava farms this year. He pointed out that this year alone, he bought cassava seedlings worth over N80,OOO. He said initially, farmers sold a bag of cassava at the cost of N2,SOO and N2,700, but with the adoption of a drying system, a bag of cassava is being sold at the rate ofN4,OOO to NS,OOO .. "Last year I cultivated three farms and I sold the commodity before harvesting at the cost of N130,OOO, NSO,OOO and N40,OOO respectively. This year I want to harvest it, and I am sure I will gain a lot of money at the end of the season;' he said. He explained that out of every five farms in Kila village four were for cassava, adding that, "80 per cent of our people are cassava growers, and findings have indicated that the remaining 20 were not in the business will also join out of the business owing to lack the trend for profit. of suitable market." Abdullahi said had it been allam Usman Saleh is there is market where-the farmanother cassava farmer ers can take their commodity to in Abena village in Kila for onward sale, those that were area. He told Daily Trust that he •
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and NS,OOO. But for this year I don't know how it will be sold." "It is a helpful business because it ~as been assisting me in han-
has six cassava farms. saying "I am harvesting up to lOa bags of cassava every year. Last year I sold a bag of cassava between N 4,500
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RUST
Tuesday, March 8,2011
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However. Daily Trust observed that cassava farmers in Kila vil-
lage need just a little push to develop their business. They need a lucrative business that is ca pable of taking care of a family, no matter how extended the family is." he stressed. Another cassava farmer. Mallam Dahiru Shehu Abena said he has been in the business of cassava growing for five years now. He said currently he is cultivating three farms. and that he is expecting to harvest not less than 80 bags. 'ar I
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dting the affairs of my family.
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Whoever concentrates on this
.use lan·
business will never seek for any assistance from other people. It is
dictates the prices. However, Government on its part is greatly assisting the farmers. particularly in the area of the provision of fertilizer and other
provision of adequate fertilizers.
ernment has given aSsurance to us
improved seedlings. insecticides.
that we will get more if we apply early. and we applied early:'
and above all capital and suitable market for selling their goods.
facilities meant for activities.
Accard-
i ng to Kila Cassava Growers
tion.
the
Associa-
present
administration
of
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"cassava farming means everything to me. because I make my
ciation's members,
their business.
One of the Asso-
living from it." "I will soon take my second wife because 1 realised that with the boom in cassava farming. I am capable of taking care of two wives. You know we in the village need little money to marry a wife. and since 1 have a way of earning my income, I have no excuse for staying with one wife;' he said. Mallam Uzairu Abubakar. another indigene of Kila village. who has been in the job for eight years now. told Daily Trust that
Alhaji Nura Abdullahi told Daily Trllst that the Lamidoled administration has brought three cassava grinding machines to area. noting that ."although the machines are yet to be installed. but each machine has the capacity of grinding
cassava farming is a useful job.
per day. When they start functioning. 240 tonnes of cassava are expected to be processed every day in Kila Village:' n fertilizer. '''' Abdullahi said. 'last
He added that he owns six cassava farms. which he is currently cultivating. Abubakar explained that he harvests more than 120 bags of cassava every year, and that he is taking the commodity to Kano. Ahuja. Kaduna. los and Benin for onward sale. A bag of caSSava is being sold at the rate ofN4.000 to N6.000. depending on the size of the bag. and or how the market
Governments assistance in the
expecting more bags because gov-
easing the farmers'
Governor Sule Lamido has prOVided the community with necessary facilities meant for boosting
father of three. Shehu said. he got married. constructed his house and bought a motorcycle. all through cassava cultivation. He added
ernment. saying "this year we are
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80 tonnes of cassava
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