Although there are pockets of rainfall across the federation in recent times, agriculturalists have again warned farmers against rush to plant because of the early rain fall.
However, they said, this is the time to prepare the farmland in preparation for rainy season farming which should be due in a couple of weeks.
Based on past experiences whereby some farmers lost their seedlings due to rush to plant following first and second rainfall last year, stakeholders advised farmers to be careful and study the weather properly before they sow any seed in their farmland.
In separate chats with LEADERSHIP, they noted that, ‘experienced farmers should not rely on first or second rainfall to plant in order to avoid harm.’
On his part, the chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, South West, Dr Babafemi Oke advised farmers to go the extra efforts by embracing insurance for their farm which is the best way to protect and secure the farm produce against eventual loss.
Otunba Oke advised new farmers not to be deceived by the early rain, and rush to farm , saying, “Farmers should not rush to plant because of early rainfall. Experienced farmers should rather use this period to embark on field preparations but should avoid sowing all seedlings based on the first and second rain fall. An experienced farmers would not use the first or second rain to plant.
The rain may not stabilise until the third rainfall, hence, he advised, “ caution is needed. What we are expressing is the effect of climate change. Although, the rain which ought to start around April is starting now in February, in central region of Nigeria, farmers should watch properly before planting.”
Moreover, Oke said: “Basically, by way of adequate preparations, farmers should get their seeds from registered agencies eg ADPs, notable seed out growers, good fertilisation (both organic and inorganic compounds). Practice effective crop protection.
“Farmers should always insure their farms with the relevant agency, it is good for farmers to form cooperatives in order to be able to secure some palliatives to cushion effect of loss.”
Similarly, he said, ‘loses incurred by farmers are not just from insecurity alone. There could be other sources of loss from natural factors (flooding, fire outbreak etc).’
Likewise, another experienced farmer, Prince Adegbenro Nurudeen said: “With the problem associated with Climate Change, it is important for farmers to study the changes and the type of seedlings to plant. I know many farmers may be eager to plant as the prices of foods are soaring higher in the country. Every farmer must calculate and be sensitive to climate change in pickup what to plant this year.”
According to Nurudeen, “to have good harvest this years, farmers must study the soil and imbibe rotation planting after considering the movement of rain.
“Also, Nigerian farmers ensure good monitoring for their plants because of the schedules of rains. According to study, some geopolitical zones may witness low rain and while some will face high rate of rain. In every large farm settlement, the farmers must prepare for erosion especially in the Southern part of Nigeria.”
Nurudeen, who is also a lecturer, stated that, “With the problem facing the country on food insecurity, it is important for government to invest more in Agriculture and assist the farmers in all fronts. At this time, any loan given to farmers must be interest free to accommodate farmers to dwell on stable foods. Seedlings must be provided to farmers to capture all areas of food production. Storage facilities are part of what Government must do to assist the farmers.”
To him, “many roads leading to farms are not motorable. Government need to work on road infrastructure leading to rural areas where farms are located. Many farmers are facing this recurrent problem of transportation. After harvesting, how to move raw foods from farms are notorious problem to the farmers.”
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