The Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN), have appealed for early commencement of dry season farming to cushion effects 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 an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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 utilise the receding moisture of the flood to plant appropriate crops that can be grown, using the receding moisture.
He said 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 had developed early varieties of crops and it had 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 others can be effectively produced under flooded situation,’’ he said.
In a separate interview with NAN, Dr. Lawal Maishanu-Gazara, Chairman, Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN), Kaduna State Chapter, appealed to government to obtain real data of the farmers affected by the flood.
“These cohorts should be supported with incentives such as improved seeds, fertilizers and extension workers to ameliorate the flood which threatened 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 flooding in 2012 but the government’s prompt response initiatives, through early distribution of inputs for the dry season farming, had cushioned 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 commenced with inadequate rainfalls for planting and it stopped when the crop was not yet matured.
He said as at the time the farmers planted the rice, their farms were also 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 hinted of bumper maize harvest, in spite of the high cost of fertilizers during season.
He attributed the success to the early planting of the crop but allayed the fears of low harvest to farmers who planted the crop late.
He noted that most of the farmers in the area were small scale as such they could not afford to buy the required fertilizers for their farms which might subsequently limit 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 might 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.
