LATE RAINS CRIPPLE FARMING

Mr Victor Olowe

Farmers in the Southwest are combating water shortage during this planting season – no thanks to late rains.
The Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union (FADU), Mr Victor Olowe, referred to small yams that have been harvested by farmers as evidence of the water problem.

The problem farmers are facing with climate change was visible in most part of the country where farmers are reviving their agricultural heritage.

According to reports, farmers can only cultivate paddy, millet, beans and other commodities in the few areas of land due to late rains. Crops are limp, while livestock are struggling to find feeds as farmers anxiously await rains.

Despite a reasonable start in the season, many crops are drying off from lack of substantial follow-up rain.
While it is not happening everywhere, farmers in the Southwest are concerned with the problem.
Observers believe productivity this year will be reduced drastically.

The Provost, Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igbo Ora, Oyo State, Prof. Gbemiga Adewale, said bad weather could cripple harvests, adding that this could affect food prices.

He urged farmers to focus on tackling climate change, saying it is crucial to tackling miserable harvests.
Vice President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Mr Stephen Oladipupo warned that, without government action on feed shortage, consumers and producers will experience devastating effects, from the farm to the meat aisle.
He said that the cost of animal feed is getting higher by the day.

However, the farmers cannot adjust the prices for poultry or cattle according to the rising input costs due to competing with imported products and the demand from domestic customers.

Across the fisheries sector, fishmeal has become a “high-price” strategic marine protein. This follows the increasing local demand for fishmeal, driven by the growth of the aquaculture industry — while supply is declining, prices are naturally expected to rise.

Operators say fishmeal is in short supply due to shortages in key feed components. Clearly, with a volatile but long-term declining supply and rising prices, local fish business operators are rationing the use of fishmeal and fish oil.