Kebbi farmers begin preparation for millet planting, targets first rain

Millet farmers in Kebbi State have started clearing their farms in preparation for this year’s millet planting. The farmers are targeting the first rain likely to come in April for them to begin the planting of the crop. A farmer in one of the farm locations at the bye pass in Birnin kebbi area told […]

Millet farmers in Kebbi State have started clearing their farms in preparation for this year’s millet planting.

The farmers are targeting the first rain likely to come in April for them to begin the planting of the crop.

A farmer in one of the farm locations at the bye pass in Birnin kebbi area told our correspondent that he was doing everything in readiness for his millet planting.

He said “The period for this season millet planting is nearer. I am only waiting for the first rain. I have just finished clearing my farms. I am now doing every other things that are needed to be done before the planting begins.”

Some of the farmers told our correspondent that they started the planting last year late because the rain did not start until May.

They said they are hopeful that it would start early this year for them to start the planting.

Another farmer in Kalgo area of the state, Ibrahim Garba Bunza, said he already got three hectares of land and he has started clearing it for millet planting.

“I have even bought the seedlings, fertilizers and other things I will need for the planting all I am waiting for is the drop of the rain and I will start planting,” he said.

He said he benefitted from the state government’s assistance last farming season. ‘’They gave us improved seeds, fertilizers and other agrochemicals last farming season. We hope they will assist us this year because we cannot do the farming things alone”

The farmers were seeing in their numbers at different farm locations preparing their lands for the millet planting.

At Duku, makera and other farm areas in Birnin Kebbi, farmers have started tilling the lands to plant millet and are eagerly awaiting the rain.

Mustapha Suleiman said he has started preparing his millet farms at three different areas Zauro, Ambursa and Gwadangwaji areas of Birnin Kebbi.

“I need to start earlier because of my experience during last year’s farming. I started at the middle of the rainy period and it didn’t work out in the way I had expected. Now, I have put everything in place for this year’s millet planting. I have prepared the farms, bought fertilizers and other things needed for millet planting. All I am waiting for is rain,’’ he said.