Some farmers in Bauchi have expressed dismay over poor harvests and low yields caused by a rice blast outbreak during the current cropping season.
The farmers said the situation had exposed them to losses and made rice farming less attractive.
A cross-section of the farmers disclosed this in interviews with reporters on Monday in Bauchi.
Mr Kabiru Abdullahi, a rice farmer, said the outbreak ravaged his farm, resulting in low yields at harvest.
He said the disease affected the rice plants following inadequate rainfall.
Abdullahi identified low and irregular rainfall as a major obstacle to rice cultivation in the area.
“We faced a series of challenges due to irregular rainfall. The rain sometimes stopped for several days, and when it rained, it was insufficient to nourish the plants.
“I harvested 15 bags of paddy, compared with 22 bags in previous years,” he said.
Another farmer, Suleiman Khalid, corroborated Abdullahi’s account, saying inadequate rainfall had severely affected his farm.
He said the rice plants wilted due to a prolonged dry spell, resulting in low yields.
“I normally harvested about 30 bags of paddy in previous years, but that dropped to fewer than 10 bags this season,” he said.
Commenting on the situation, Mr Ya’u Mohammed, Programme Manager of the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP), attributed the problem to climate change.
He said rice blast disease had become more pronounced due to dry spells and low rainfall.
Mohammed said farmers had faced drought, rice blast and other crop diseases during the season.
“The disease becomes more pronounced when rainfall is inadequate, contributing to poor harvests on some rice farms,” he said.
He urged farmers to follow advice from extension workers and weather advisories issued by relevant government agencies to minimise losses.
