Jigawa farmers apprehensive over dry spell
There is growing apprehension among farmers in Jigawa State over a dry spell which is likely to affect harvest in this year’s farming season.
The drawn-out between the beginning of the raining season necessitated for late planting of crops as part of the season had already been exhausted within the dry spell period, therefore, the varieties that require longer period to mature may be affected.
The first heavy downpour was recorded in the state five weeks ago. It built up hope for farmers of having good farming season this year, hence, the mobilization to farms with majority of them starting tilting of the soil in preparation for planting.
Farmers with crops that last long before maturity were the most mobilized. Encouraged by early rainfall, they started planting crops which include, sorghum, millet, cowpea and groundnut.
Due to the dry spell experienced between the last downpour to the time of the report, the crops planted particularly, the legume varieties have dried up while the other cereals, are also gradually shrivelling. It is estimated that if there is no rain in the next one or two weeks none of the planted crops will survive.
Last year, the state recorded very poor harvest in sorghum, as rainfall stopped early while the crop was budding.
Yusuf Abdullahi, a farmer from Hadejia zone of the state said, during the last heavy rainfall, the farmers were delighted. Over 40 percent went out to plant, hoping that with the early rain, the calamity experienced last year would not repeat itself.
Based on the experience in terms of the drawn-out, if there is no change in a short while, all the crops planted will be lost to lack of moisture; resulting to the likelihood of poor harvest as experienced last year, especially of crops that require long period of rainfall to mature.
Majority of farmers in Hadejia zone planted cereals, sorghum and millet. Apart from the sorghum planted in moisture retention areas, all the other crops have dried up. Millet, which is more drought tolerant, has undergone a serious dry spell shock which it may not withstand if it continues beyond the next 14 days.
“The last downpour we had in our area was about 40 days ago and as a result of shortage of rain from that period till date, all the legume crops that were planted have died because they cannot survive the harsh dry weather.
“However cereals that include sorghum and millet are still struggling to survive the condition, though, sorghum planted in the highland areas have died while those planted in places that can retain some moisture are struggling to survive. Millet which is more drought tolerant only suffered some shock.
“If the condition continues over the next two weeks without change, all the crops will be lost; they must be replanted. We are scared over the condition because of our experience last year.
“The variety of crops which last longer before maturity are the ones most familiar to our farmers and for the fact that we are eating deep into the season, there is every likelihood that this year’s raining season will not last long to enable the maturity of this variety of crops,” he said.
Ahmed Rufai Dutse, a farmer and journalist, said farmers are apprehensive in the state over the recurrence of what happened last year, where most of the cereal crops did not mature for harvest, following a dry spell.
Majority of the farmers are in confusion on what next to do because the early maturing cowpea and groundnut varieties planted had died while the other cereals are on the verge of dying up too.
According to him, what is being presently experienced is synonymous with what was experienced last year in term of volume of rainfall so far recorded this year. The cereals that could not give a good harvest last year are the same crops suffering the same condition this farming season.
“Farmers are in serious state of worry; everybody is apprehensive over what the harvest period will be like at the end of the season. We pray for not only the rainfall to pick up but to give the required volume that can bridge the gap so far. If God answers our prayer, then there is no cause for alarm,” Dutse said.
Usman Adamu Izge, an agriculture expert, said most of the farmers saw the first downpour as the raining season proper and rushed to commence planting, forgetting that it was not yet time for planting, if we go by the time the season became fully established last year.
According to him, the season became fully established last year between 16th and 20th of June, adding that until then, there was no reason for farmers to panic.
“Planting crops to maturity within the period the raining season lasts depends on the variety one goes for. There are improved varieties in both the cereals and the legume crops that don’t take long period to mature. Those varieties can reach the harvest period but those that take long before maturity could likely be affected.
“Those that were hit by poor harvest were those that planted those varieties that require long period to mature for harvest. There is no cause for alarm for those that made the right choice of the variety of crop to be planted.”