Plateau Farmers Lament Insufficient Rainfalls

Farmers in Southern part of Plateau State have decried lack of sufficient rainfalls in various communities across the area, saying their crops were wilting and dying.

The Southern part of the state contains agrarian communities located in the lowlands across six local government areas of Langtang North, Langtang South, Mikang, Shendam, Wase and Qua-an Pan.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the axis is where yam, maize, rice, groundnuts, millet and beans are cultivated in commercial quantities.

Findings revealed that Southern Plateau experienced late rainfall in the last farming season, followed by insufficient rains.

However, this year, drought set in mid-season after the crops had already been planted.

A resident of Langtang South, Nandul Solomon, decried lack of rainfall in the zone, explaining that crops grown by farmers have started drying up as a result of the drought.

Farmers in the areas who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, said they have been experiencing short rainfall for nearly 25 days, resulting in the drying up of crops.

According to them, if the situation continues, they would lose millions of naira as the crops planted have not reached maturity level before the cessation of rainfall.

They further explained that this year’s short rainfall has left many farmers worried about the potential impact on crop yields and food security.

A resident of Yelwa community in Shendam LGA, Yusuf Maidoki, lamented the development, saying, “I have planted groundnuts in large quantities and expected a bumper harvest, but with this development, I’m worried about the outcome. We hope it rains anytime soon.”

For his part, Joseph Domle, a resident of Langtang in Langtang North LGA, also lamented the development, stressing that if the shortage of rain continues, the situation would be devastating.

He said, “We’re facing short rainfall in our area since the farming season started. We hope it rains soon because the situation is worrisome.”

Another farmer from Qua’an Pan LGA, Daniel Ishaku, who cultivates yams, also expressed grave concern over the development.

LEADERSHIP reports that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Climate Prediction Centre (CPC), had predicted that the northern part of Nigeria will experience short rainfall late July and early August this year.