Rainfall pattern causes ‘sleepless nights’ for Yobe farmers

Some farmers in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital say the unstable nature of rainfall pattern this year, is worrisome and an indication of the need to place priority on irrigation farming. The farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Monday that already the season had started experiencing ‘dry spell’, a condition […]

Some farmers in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital say the unstable nature of rainfall pattern this year, is worrisome and an indication of the need to place priority on irrigation farming.

The farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Monday that already the season had started experiencing ‘dry spell’, a condition that was not favourable for them.

One of them, Malam Bukar Modu, a grain farmer, said that many farmers who planted their crops after the first rains had become disappointed as rainfall was not frequent as anticipated.

“Some of the farmers may have to re-plant because the crops that germinated earlier may have withered due to lack of water,” he said.

Another farmer, Alhaji Ibrahim Kaku, a retired civil servant, said he could not continue with planting after the completion of harrowing because rainfall had ceased for some time.

“It has become a source of worry to many of us; we are not sure of crops’ survival because we are not sure of the rain,” he said.

Kaku urged the state government to evolve programmes that would exploit the potentials of irrigation farming.

“With the current changes in rainfall pattern, this (irrigation farming) will be a sure way to ensuring improved agriculture, food security and economic growth,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Haruna Madaki, urged the government to make farm input such as fertilizer, readily available to farmers for early application.