Agriculture
‘Late Rains, Farmers’ Major Challenge’
The Divisional Agriculture Officer (DAO) in charge of Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr John Ogum, says one of the major challenges facing farmers in the area during dry season farming is delayed rain fall.
Ogum, who disclosed this last Monday in a telephone interview with The Tide explained that the development has compelled farmers who have planted earlier to replant their cross especially cassava.
“Some of the farmers that have planted earlier and because of lack of rain, the crops that were planted wither and when rain falls they (farmers) replant,” he said.
According to him, one ugly aspect of such a development is that it sets back the planting season.
He said this is so because farmers who do not want to go into late planting will stop planting while waiting for the rains to set in.
However, Ogun said dry season farming depends on individual farmers to take a decision on how to go about their farming activities.
He explained that around the dry season, farmers are advised to cultivate on fertile lands that are close to waterlogged areas.
“If you plant by this season not minding that there is no rain, the crops will do well but if it is real dry land, you have to wait until the first rain comes,” he said.
Speaking on the significance of the early morning dew to the farmer, the Abolga DAO explained that the dew that comes with drops of water is beneficial to the farmer as it waters their crops.
Ogum who described the beneficial dew as “peak early morning dews” explained that such dews have a cooling effect on anybody that comes in contact with it.
“There is a difference between peak early morning dew and ordinary morning dew because peak early morning dew is the dew of the early morning that makes you feel fine .“If you see water dripping from the leaves of crops like cocoyam, plantain and yam, they drip water as if there is rainfall and when they descend on those crops, crops that are grown they do well,” he explained.
He however explained that crops that benefit from such dew are the ones that have already germinated and grown up in contrast to the ones that were still buried in the ground.
“If it is crops that have not sprouted and still in the ground, they do not benefit much from such dew,” he said.
He added that when the dew drops on the leaves of grown crops they accept that as rainfall and it helps the crops meaningfully.
However, he said the other dew that does not come with water drops can help cool the ground.
“The other dew will still be there and the tendency is that it can cool the ground and help the ungerminated crop to sprout and it saves the farmer from replanting,” he said.
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”.