Gombe blames decline in maize yield on inadequate extension workers

Sunday Lah, the Director of Agric Extension Service, Gombe State Agricultural Development Program (GADP), has attributed the decline in maize yield to inadequate extension workers.

Lah told the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe on Friday that inadequate extension workers in Gombe has reduced maize yield from the estimated 500,000 metric tonnes to 300,000 metric tonnes.

The director said extension workers were grossly inadequate.

He said one extension worker was supposed to serve 800 farmers by global standards, adding that only one was serving 4,000 farmers in Gombe.

“We have less than 100 extension workers in the state because since the creation of Gombe state in 1996, extension workers were not recruited,’’ he said.

He said Gombe State Government needed to recruit 2,000 extension workers.

“But with the current economic situation, even 300 will serve the purpose to some extent, ” he said.

“Farmers are equally ignorant of the problem; they do not know where to go and whom to contact,’’ he said.

According to him, the stembora pest has also affected maize, particularly in the southern area of the state.

“The stembora also affected guinea corn and millet, but maize was largely affected. This is because maize does not stand stress,’’ he said.

Lah, who described the problem as minor, said chemicals and spray would have solved the problem.

 

NAN