Farmers lament inadequate rainfall, say it may affect agricultural production


Some farmers in Nasarawa state on Thursday said that the inadequate rainfall being experienced in the state may negatively affect agricultural production for the 2016 farming season.

The farmers expressed their concern in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

They unanimously prayed God for an abundant rainfall and urged Nigerians to pray for bumper harvest in order to achieve food sufficiency and to tackle poverty and unemployment in the country.

Mr Agada Solomon, a farmer in Garaku, appreciated God for the early rainfall, but said he and his colleagues were still praying for abundant rainfall.

“We, the farmers are grateful to God for the early rainfall in the state, but we are still praying for abundant rainfall in order to boost agricultural production in the state and in the country at large.

“Look at it now, we have planted crops, but there is inadequate rainfall and this may affect agricultural production for the 2016 farming season.

“Notwithstanding the inadequate rainfall, I want to advise other farmers not to be discouraged by the situation.

“Let them continue with their farming, considering the importance of farming to socioeconomic development of the country

“Agriculture is important because we pay our children school fees, hospital bills, feed ourselves and take care of our family members through agriculture.

“In view of this, I want to call on people without job to embrace farming,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians to embrace farming for an improved economy due to fall in the price of oil and to boost the nation’s food security.

Another farmer in Garaku, Abu Hassan, also lamented the inadequate rainfall and like others, prayed for the abundance of rainfall and God’s blessings.

“We need adequate rainfall in order to have the hope of bumper harvest for the 2016 cropping seasons.


“We will not relent in our efforts towards ensuring food sufficiency in the country,” he said.  

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