Prof. Adamu Ahmad, VC of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Adamu Ahmad, has raised the alarm over soaring agricultural input prices, warning that they threaten Nigeria’s food security. He urged the Federal Government to provide urgent support to prevent smallholder farmers from abandoning production.
Speaking during a field demonstration of the drought-tolerant, pest-resistant TELA hybrid maise at the Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmad highlighted the rising costs of fertiliser, tractors, hybrid seeds and farmland as critical challenges. He stressed that without targeted interventions, many farmers may not survive current economic pressures.
Represented by Prof. Rabiu Adamu, the Vice-Chancellor called on farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, including hybrid seeds, mechanisation, and advanced technologies, to boost productivity and income.
“We cannot continue to do agriculture the same way and expect different results. Hybrid seeds and mechanisation are essential if Nigeria must attain food sufficiency,” he said.
The Managing Director of ECOBasic Seed, Mr Brighton Karume, said the TELA maize outperformed traditional varieties in terms of drought tolerance, pest resistance, and yield, reinforcing the need to adopt modern seeds to secure national food production.
