NiMet warns farmers in the central states against early planting

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned farmers in the central states of Abuja, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Niger States against planting their crops with the current early rains over the region.


The General Manager, Climate Services, NiMet, Mr Joseph Alozie, said that planting season should not commence with the current rains.

According to him, it is not safe for farmers in most of the central states where rains are being experienced currently to commence farming activities for the 2016 farming season.

He stated that following the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction presented by NiMet recently, planting of crops should only start in and around the central region from April.

In a data made available to NAN by Alozie covering Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, it was predicted that most cities in the region would experience less rainfall during the year.

The prediction revealed that rainy season would commence over the Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Tando axis of the territory between April 23 and May 3.

It also stated that rainfall cessation would begin over the same axis between Nov. 9 and Nov. 20.
According to the prediction, Abuja and environs will have between 190 and 207 days length of rainfall, while the amount of annual rainfall is expected to be in the range of 1,004mm and 1,429mm.

It also revealed that most cities in Benue would experience onset of rain from April 4, while the latest onset would be experienced on May 1over Makurdi axis.

According to the prediction, the cessation of rain for Makurdi will be Nov. 20 while Egumale axis of the state will continue to experience rainfall up to Dec. 1.

The length of rainfall is predicted to be in the range of 203 days over Markurdi and 239 days over Orokam with total annual rainfall in the range of 1,059mm to 1,656mm.

NiMet predicts that most cities in Kogi will experience on-set of rain from April 1, while Lokoja will experience the last on-set on May 1 with cessation period between Nov. 15 and Dec. 3.

It also predicts that the length of rainfall in the state will be in the range of 205 days over Lokoja and 247 days over Imbaka axis of the state.

The amount of annual rainfall over the state, according to the prediction, will be in the range of 1,072mm over Lokoja and 1,744mm over Imbaka.

It indicated that the earliest onset over Nasarawa State would be April 19, while the last onset would occur on May 1with the expected date of cessation to be from Nov. 12 to 20.

The length of rainfall over the state would be in the range of 194 days over Ninga and 216 days over Gidan Rai axis of the state.

It was also predicted that Nasarawa state would have annual amount of rainfall in the range of 1,040mm over Ninga and 1,275 over Gidan Rai.

NiMet also predicted that Niger would experience earliest onset on April 26 over Baro, while the last onset was expected on May 26 over Duku axis of the state.

It stated that the first cessation would occur on Oct. 22 over Duku while the last cessation would be on Nov. 22 over Minna.

According to the prediction, the length of rainfall over the state will be in the range of 150 days and 204 days, while the amount will be between 774mm and 1,136mm.