Farmers and stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to the prediction of early rains in some parts of the country this year by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), a has revealed.
In separate interviews with farmers and other stakeholders in Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, while some described the prediction as a positive development with expectations for a productive year, others expressed fears of possible early cessation of rains and poor harvest.
A farmer in Ekiti, Pa Joel Omoniyi, said early rains had never been good for planting as it ceases suddenly, when least expected.
According to him, the implication of this is that it will result in financial and economic losses to farmers.
He advised farmers to delay planting their crops, in order not to plant twice, thereby run into losses.
Omoniyi said that except farmers planted carefully and smart, the harvest in the 2023 farming season could be adversely affected.
However, the duo of Mrs Olufunke Michael and Mr Jide Olusegun, both farmers, said that the forecast was good news for farmers; particularly those who planted certain crops such as cassava, yam, potatoes and the likes late last year that would require the rains.
Also, a member of Maize Farmers Association, Mr Samuel Bamidele, said rain-fed agriculture had become a mirage to farmers across the country, with very serious food security implications, due to irregular climate pattern.
Another farmer and public servant, Mrs Mosunmola Olayemi, advised farmers to embrace irrigation farming to mitigate the effect of irregular rains occasioned by climate change.
Besides, she called on governments at all levels, to come to the aid of farmers by investing heavily in irrigation farming.
This, she said, governments could do by supporting farmers with irrigation facilities, as a food security strategy.
In Osun, Mr Suleiman Araokanmi, the Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association Of Nigeria (AFAN), said the forecast by NiMet of early rainfall in some parts of the country could be regarded as good news to farmers that were willing to go back to their farmland early.
Araokanmi said that preparedness of farmers for the early rainy season would result in good cultivation, planting and bumper harvest at the end of the day.
“As regard the issue of preparedness of farmers in Osun, I want to say we have started making pre-farming preparations.
“We have started the clearing of farmlands, buying of fertilizers, repairing damaged tools and machines, among other, Araokanmi said.
He, however, urged farmers to be a little patient before planting, saying: “Any farmer that embarks on planting within this period, when the rain has not started falling regularly, is either wasting his energy, money or time.
“I believe no farmer will want to be at a loss by embarking on planting early in the year, especially when the rains have not started falling regularly.
“Farmers will have to wait for a little while for the rain to fully start before cultivating and planting in order to have a bumper harvest.
“We are preparing and we thank NiMet for their predictions,” Araokanmi said.
Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Ogunsanya, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, South-West Farmers Association of Nigeria, said that early rainfall as predicted by NiMet would yield positive effects on crops.
Ogunsanya said early rain fall would assist the crops planted to germinate well.
He explained that the early rain fall would also assist yam planted between November and December last year to grow fast.
Ogunsanya advised farmers to go back to their farms to prepare their land for the early rainfall.
The chairman, however, warned farmers against bush burning, which, according to him, could affect soil fertility needed for crops to germinate well.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr Abayomi Monilari, President of Ondo State Farmer Congress and State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said that the early rainfall predicted by NiMet would increase food security in the country.
Monilari said that farmers in the state were already preparing for the 2023 farming season and the prediction of early rainfall would only stimulate them to speedily get their farms ready to plant their crops.
According to him, most people in this part of the country are not used to irrigation system because they don’t have the facility.
“But if we have early rainfall now, farmers will be able to go back to their farms. Even those planting tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon in swampy areas will have enough water to plant.
“Two days ago, farmers had sufficient rainfall in Okitipupa which gave them room to go back to farm.
”And those who have crops already in the ground will have enough rain to enhance productivity.
“But is only God that gives rain and if God allows rain to fall, it will be a great advantage and positive for the nation as a whole and the famers in particular,” he said.
