Rainfall: FCT farmers predict bountiful harvest


Some farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said there would be a bountiful harvest in 2016 farming season, following the current adequate rainfall in the territory.
The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday said that the two days rainfall in the territory was an indication of good harvest especially yams.
Mr Zaka Habila, a farmer from Gaube village in Kuje FCT, said with adequate rainfall, some yam species will grow up to two feet size.
``We thank God for this two days rain because it will make the crops in our farms to grow properly, especially root crops.
``Yam species like `akuci, army and gwagwa' can grow up to two feet size if they get adequate rainfall because it makes the soil soft for yam roots to penetrate downward.
``Adequate rainfall will also assist the proper growth of maize, millet and groundnut on farms as it nourishes the crop leaves to grow well,'' habila said.
Mr Isuwa Gaza, a farmer from Tukpechi village, said, ``with the way the rain has started this season, I think we will have a bountiful harvest in 2016 compared to 2015.
``If the Fulani people will stop entering our farms with their cows, there will be no conflict within us that our farms will yield good harvest.
The farmers, however, called on the government to assist farmers with fertiliser through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture.
They also called on the Kuje Area Council authorities to repair the bad roads in their various communities in order to ease the movement of farm produce to the market.
Mr Usman Baba, a plantain farmer, complained of the deplorable state of the road and the difficulty farmers faced in transporting their farm produce to the market.
``Our road is not good at all; we find it very hard and expensive to take our plantain to Kuje on the market day.
``During rainy season, we farmers, find it very difficult to transport our goods to the town because of the bad road.
``We want the area council to repair our roads, to give us water and electricity,’’ Baba said.

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