Osun Farmers Express Hope despite NiMet’s Prediction

NiMet

Despite the predictions of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), farmers in Osun State have expressed their optimism to record bumper harvest.


According to NiMet’s Drought and Flood Monitoring Bulletin, it cautioned farmers on over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture henceforth due to epileptic nature pervading weather conditions.

However, a cross section of farmers in Ede, Ada and Okuku areas of the state who spoke on the caution by NiMet noted that harvests last season was not ‘entirely bad as people claimed hoping that this year rain pattern in the area would support their crops enough for yet another great harvest.’

For Ajani Adejare, a maize and cassava farmer, he noted that he made expected profits last season despite predictions and its attendants hullabaloo.

“I’m not saying farmers should not obey NIMET warning but what I know is that with adequate plans and right projections like using the right seeds and planting at the right time, one would scale through some of these predicaments while those that did not calculate well will continue to complain,” Adejare said.

He then urged farmers not to allow bad experiences of the past few years to drive them out farming and food provision.

Another farmer who simply goes by the name Funbi said ‘despite fears nursed by some of them last season, the state was still lucky to have experienced buoyant harvest even when farmers in neighboring states complained bitterly of incurred losses.’

However, Funbi cautioned that farmers in the state should not “rely on last season’s experience but should strive to be strategic in their planning.

An official of the State Ministry of Agriculture who preferred anonymity however differ on submission made by the farmers.

“Many farmers across the local governments could not record harvests as expected and as a matter of fact are now skeptical on whether or not to farm this year. If a handful of farmers recorded bumper harvest does not mean that NiMet’s prediction did not come to pass.,” the official noted.

He encouraged farmers to always visit the Ministry to get reliable information or reach out to their extension officers at their various meeting points before taking crucial decision regarding crop production.