Erratic rains threaten rice, maize farms in Katsina

The Karaduwa zone normally experiences adequate rainfall in the months of May-October and it is the agricultural hub of the state. The farmers in the area specialise in crops like maize, sorghum, rice, beans, soya beans, coco yam and sweet potatoes.This reporter went to Danja, Bakori and Funtua local government areas and saw many farms […]

The Karaduwa zone normally experiences adequate rainfall in the months of May-October and it is the agricultural hub of the state.
The farmers in the area specialise in crops like maize, sorghum, rice, beans, soya beans, coco yam and sweet potatoes.
This reporter went to Danja, Bakori and Funtua local government areas and saw many farms in the area at the verge of destruction due to lack of rainfall.
Malam Nasidi, a maize farmer in Danja, explained how the crops in his farm dried up saying: “The raining season started on a good note and we planted our crops early to take advantage of the early harvest but unfortunately this long delay in rainfall in the past one month has shattered our hopes.; Our crops that are just bearing fruits were affected which will viciously affect yield in the harvesting period.”
Some rice farmers in Bakori and Funtua local government areas also complained that their rice farms were affected following acute shortage of rainfall.
Another rice farmer, Malam Bala Bakori, expressed worry over lack of rainfall in Bakori for over one month.
He said he commenced irrigating his farm from a nearby river, adding that there may be shortage of food crops in the area owing to shortage of rainfall.
The affected communities have organised special prayers seeking God’s intervention for rain to fall in the area, noting more than it was unusual to record shortage of rainfall in the months of July and August.