Agriculture
Bauchi Farmers Lament Excessive Rainfall
Farmers in Bauchi have expressed concern that the excessive ?rainfall being recorded in the state, is retarding the growth of their crops.
?Some of them who spoke to newsmen on Sunday in Bauchi, said although rainfall was desirable, their crops had been having more than enough for the past two weeks.
?They explained that crops like groundnut, beans, maize and tomatoes, needed some break from rainfall, to progress.
?”This is the third time within 10 days that I will be planting beans. The ones I planted earlier, did not germinate because of excessive rainfall. From the look of things, even the ones planted last, may not survive,” complained Jarmai Madaki, a farmer in Fadaman Mada area of Bauchi.
?Another beans farmer in Bauchi, Sadiq Ala’amin, described the situation as ‘alarming’, adding that if there were no change, poor harvest of some crops, particularly beans and maize, might be recorded this year.
?A tomato farmer in Magama-Gumau town of Bauchi, Audu Luka, said that his tomatoes that had already started producing flowers, were completely destroyed by excessive rainfall.
?”I had calculated that in two months time, I would start harvesting my tomatoes, but the plants rot away due to too much rainfall.
?”I spent about N50,000 on the farm and have now given up any hope of breaking even. The only crop that will survive this rainfall, is rice,” he said.
?The Tide Correspondent who visited some villages in the outskirts of Bauchi, namely Tirwun, Badaromo, Inkil and Dabe, reports seeing farmlands washed away by rainfall.
?Usman Ali, a farmer in Badaromo, told our source that his groundnut farm was completely covered by flood in the first week of August.
?”When the water finally drained, the damage had been done as the leaves turned yellowish. I am not sure of getting anything reasonable this year,” he lamented.
?NAN observes that because of this development, some farmers who intended planting crops that detest excessive rainfall, have been forced to suspend planting for now.
?”I am watching to see if there will be a change. If there isn’t, then I may have to plant rice instead of initial plan for beans,” stated Shuabu Usman, a farmer in Inkil.
?Commenting on the development in an interview with The Tide, a Director with the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme, Malam Ja’afaru Ilela, said seeds normally need slightly warm temperature, to germinate.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
