The Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) has appealed for early commencement of dry season farming to cushion of flood and enhance food security.
Prof. Muhammed-Faguji Ishiyaku, Executive Director, Institute For Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello Unversity (ABU) Zaria made the appeal in Zaria on Sunday.
He said with the early commencement of distribution of inputs for the dry season farming and cessation of the rainfalls , farmers should be supported to utilize the receding moisture of the flood to plant appropriate crops that can be grown using the receding moisture.
He noted the flooding experience in Nigeria was very similar to an epidemic; therefore, the government has to take a lead with robust initiatives to ameliorate the situation.
He added that the institute has developed early varieties of crops and it has also initiated the development of maize seed varieties that would stand flooding for a period of time.
“We will expand to sorghum and subsequently we will look at how other can be effectively produce under flooded situation,’’ he said.
Dr. Lawal Maishanu-Gazara, Chairman, Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) Kaduna State Chapter appeals for government to obtain real data of the farmers affected by the flood.
“These cohorts should be supported with incentives such as improves seeds, fertilizer and extension workers to ameliorates the flood which threaten Nigeria’s food security.
“At association level, we are discussing with stakeholders towards obtaining soft loans for our members to venture into dry season farming,’’ he said.
Similarly, a Zaria based farmer, Ahmed Abubakar, noted that there was similar flood incidence in 2012 but the government’s prompt respond initiatives through early distribution of inputs for the dry season farming had cushion the effect of 2012 flood.
According to him, the initiatives by the government has helped to sustain the price equilibrium for the farm produce in 2012 eventhough large percentage of agricultural investments were washed away by the flood.
“As farmers, we are appealing to the government for a replication of the 2012 initiatives and commence the distribution of incentives to the farmers for dry season farming to boost food security,’’ he said.
Abubakar said: “ it is now a harvest season, most farmers who planted upland rice did not reap from their investments. But some of the few wetland rice farms that withstand the flood had a bumper harvest.
He attributed the loss to the nature of rainfalls experienced during the season.
Abubakar explained that wet season has commenced with inadequate rainfalls for planting and it stopped when the crop was not yet matured while as at the time the farmers planted the rice, their farms were attacked by insects.
He said that he saw some farmers who planted three to four bags of rice seed (100kg bags) but harvested less than what they planted.
However, Abubakar hints on bumper maize harvest in spite of the high cost of fertilizer during season.
He attributed the success to the early planting of the crop but allay fears of low harvest to farmers who planted the crop late and meet the contending high cost of fertilizer.
He noted that most of the farmers in the area were small scale farmers as such they cannot afford to buy the require fertilizer for their farms which may subsequently limits the yield from their farms.
He said most of the farmers mixed their maize farms with beans to harness their investment; but the early secession of rainfall may also affect the beans production.
“We are jittery and afraid because the secession of the rainfall came with early signs of harmattan which dries the remaining soil moisture, the harmattan breeze also breaks the beans flowers.
