By Chinyere Anyanwu, [email protected]
The Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has advised farmers in the North West to plant early maturing seed varieties in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) predictions for the 2024 rainy season.
Prof. Ado Yusuf, executive director of the institute, gave the advice while interacting with the media yesterday in Zaria.
Yusuf stated that NIMET had predicted that the 2024 wet season would be dryer than normal; a few states would witness early rainfall but that most states in the North would be late. He explained that the first rain was different from the onset of the season.
Yusuf said based on the predictions, there may be a dry spell, which may extend beyond two weeks, especially in the northern states.
“Farmers should delay a little before they commence planting until it is well established to avoid replanting; it was also predicted that there will be early cessation of rainfall in so many places.
“In some places, the last rain may come around the first or second week of October, which means the length of the rainy season is short, so farmers should go for short duration crops,’’ he said.
The official added that the North-Central states that produce roots and tubers may also experience similar challenges, noting that farmers in the area should adopt diversification.
Yusuf said since the duration of the rain would be short, farmers in should diversify with cereals.
The director advised farmers, especially in the North-Western states, to adopt moisture conservation techniques such as ridges.
He said farmers should avoid zero or minimal tillage and said that they avoid long ridges while recommending enclosures for water retention.
The predictions hinted at hot temperatures, livestock farmers should get lots of water for their farms, especially poultry farmers.