NiMet advises crops farmers

 

The Chapter three of the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction ( SCP) for some key economic sectors has called on the crops farmers to take cognizance of the following underlisted advice in order to avert huge losses in crops production for running year.

Already, the SCP had predicted that the 2024 growing season is likely to vary from normal to delayed in most parts of the country with earlier than normal onset expected in Bornu, Yobe, Jigawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River State.

While areas expected to experience below normal rainfall ( 418mm- 750mm) with likely water stress are Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Benue state.

Farmers are thereby advised as follows 

i. Farmers in the areas predicted to have normal to short length of the growing season are encouraged to plan early and use early maturing varieties of crops.

ii. Drought tolerant and early maturing varieties should be planted in the whole north.

iii. Where an early dry spell is expected, planting should be delayed.

iv. In the areas predicted to experience moderate to severe dry spells, farmers are advised to use drought tolerant crop varieties. Where drought tolerant varieties are not available, farmers should adopt soil conservation techniques such as mulching, water harvesting, tied ridge, organic fertilizer and supplementary irrigation.

v. Farmers should avoid fertilizer application just before it rains in order to prevent leaching and runoff of the applied nutrient.

vi. Farmers in coastal and wetland areas Shoud adopt alternative and additional livelihood activities to mitigate the effect of possible flooding.

vii. Diversification of cultivated crops is advised in the central region of Nigeria.

viii. Inputs distribution before onset is very important. Procurement of inputs as early as possible is encouraged depending on locations.

ix. Crop farmers are advised to irrigate in the morning and evening when necessary.

x. Each state should seek professional advice from relevant agencies ( NiMet and National Agricutural Research Institutes)

xi. Farmers should avoid planting before the predicted onset dates.

xii. Reinforce the practice of farmers' traditional bimodal farming in the affected areas.

xii. Farmers in the Southwest should end the 1st season in July and start the 2nd season in late August for the small season.