EcoBasic TELA Maize Yields Excites Kaduna Farmers

By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON

Farmers in Kaduna State are excited by the “magic” of EcoBasic Seeds, TELA Hybrid Maize, following the high yeilds recorded, without spending money on pesticides.

They expressed this yesterday on Jaji, Kaduna State, when a team of agricultural specialized journalists embarked on a tour of demonstration farms, set up by EcoBasic Seeds.

One of the farmers sighted on his farm, Sabitu Abdullahi said that the Tela Hybrid Maize is the best to give good yield and timely harvest within in 70 days.

“If all Nigerian farmers get this seed it will ensure food security,” he said.

Speaking further, he said that they have been doing the demo farm with TELA Maize for three years, and have so far no regrets.

“I plant to eat and sell. We have been eating it and it is healthy,” he said.

According to him, on his maize farm, he planted SAMMAZ 75 T variety, which can also be replanted.

He called on other farmers to switch to TELA maize, while dvised that the should by the seeds and kerp before the next rainy season

He lamented that before the introduction of TELA Maize, Nigeria suffered losses to drought, stemborer and other factors, expressing delight that now they have better yields.

“It has about 30 per cent more yield,” he added.

Also speaking, Aminat Sabitu his wife, a female farmer, said that she has seen the yield of TELA Maize and was impressed, hence such joined her husband in the commercial farming business.

She said that since they switched to TELA , they get 22 bags of maize from a farm land they were getting 10 bags.

She said the seed is drought resistant and also accepts fertilizer input.

She called on women cooperatives to come and start planting TELA Maize, assuring that they won’t be disappointed.

A young farmer, Ismail Shaibu who is 27 years old, said that TELA Maize is the best variety to plant.

He said before, he was getting 7 bags, but now gets 13 from the same farm land.

Shaibu said that they don’t need to spray pesticide because the variety is pests resistant.

He said that before now, they heard wrong impression of TELA, but since they tried it, they have been farming it.

He revealed that he consumes the TELA Maize with his family and it is healthy.

Sighted on his farm weeding grasses, Saleh Ahmadu said he has been farming for over 20 years, but has never experienced a variety like TELA Maize.

“Pests don’t eat the leaves and the yield is high.

“If you will get five bags from other seeds, this one you get double from same size of land,” he disclosed.

When asked to corroborate, Hybrid Seed Market Development Manager at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Olawale Ojo, said that the development feedback they get from farmers planting TELA Maize is impressive.

“They are sure they do not need to spray and save money from insecticide

“We would say that the seed is cheap, we are talking about a seed that gives them value for the farmers.

“This variety has been tested all over Nigeria, we have demo farms all over.

“Our goal is to help farmers to adopt this technology,” he said.