Katsina - The Katsina State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KTARDA), on Thurday said it has distributed high yielding groundnut seeds to farmers, in a bid to revive groundnut production in the country.
The Acting Director, Agricultural Services, Alhaji Mansur Altine, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina. He said the seeds mature early and have high oil content.
The director said the farmers were selected from Batsari, Dutsinma, Safana and Zango Local Governments areas.
He added that the four areas were located in the Sahel and Savannah regions of the state and were deliberately chosen to test the suitability of the seeds on different soils.
According to him, the 45 farmers selected for the project have been given the seeds free, for test planting in irrigation farms.
"The intention is to spread it to other farmers during the 2013 cropping season."
He said that the seed referred to as 'SAMNUT 24', can mature within 75 days and has a yield potential of up to 1.75 tonnes per hectare.
"It is resistant to diseases like aphids, which causes stunted growth to groundnut and other pests that affect the crop."
NAN reports that the seeds were developed by the Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, under the Tropical Legumes II Project.
- NAN