the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

330• Establishment of high-capacity flourmills presupposed continued wheatimportation to ensure full utilizationof available capacity. Both <strong>the</strong> millsand <strong>the</strong> irrigation projects have beenin production for more than sevenyears without any significant suppliesarriving at <strong>the</strong> mills from localsources.Although serious doubts have beenraised as to <strong>the</strong> ability of<strong>the</strong> projectsto increase wheat productionsubstantlally in <strong>the</strong> future. it is toolate to stop <strong>the</strong> construction of damsand canals now. The problem is that<strong>the</strong> irrigation facilities developed for<strong>the</strong> production of wheat and o<strong>the</strong>rcrops have not been efficientlyutilized. The volume orwheatproduced can be increasedsubstantially ifall <strong>the</strong> developed landfor irrigation is allocated andcultivated. Average yield of wheat canalso be increased considerablythrough timely planting. better inputand services delivery and <strong>the</strong>provision of better extension servicesto farmers. Wheat importation shouldbe gradually reduced to enableNigerians to decide what proportion oflocally produced wheat <strong>the</strong>y requirefor traditional dishes and bread.Table 2. Average retail price of cereal crops in selected markets,Zaria, Nigeria, 1973 to 1983Price per ton (US$)Year Sorghum Millet Maize Wheat1973 167.61 169.70 157.53 333.501974 188.34 169.46 183.95 393.391975 178.24 166.45 195.60 364.001976 246.74 241.54 278.33 364.001977 327.60 316.16 401.70 470.861978 423.67 453.05 432.12 732.031979 367.77 413.01 391.56 544.051980 389.87 400.01 456.82 519.481981 676.00 741.00 611.00 663.001982 559.00 702.00 572.00 663.001983 637.00 644.54 679.38 611.00Source: Department of Agricultural Economics and RuralSociology, I.A.R. t Zaria, Nigeria