Dr Joseph Hussaini, Director, Technical Services, Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme (GADP), has cautioned farmers in the state against plant their crops early as the wet season approaches.
Hussaini gave the advice in an interview in Gombe on Wednesday.
He said that the advice became vital in view of the increase in panic planting by some farmers on a yearly basis.
The director also said the advice was based on the huge losses they incur as a result of planting immediately after the first rainfall.
He said it was not safe for farmers to commence planting when the rainfall is once or twice in a week.
Hussaini said the nature of the soil in some parts of the state may not sustain moisture for three or four days before the next rainfall.
He said that the right time to plant was when rainfall becomes well established and “ by established rainfall, I mean when the rainfall is three times per week.
“The onset of rain comes in several locations in different months, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) prediction; the rains might start around March in the Southern parts of the country.
“In the Northern parts, the rain will be established in late May and early June.
“So I don’t advice farmers to rush into planting until the rains are well established because those who rushed to plant with the early rains, end up planting again.
“Some farmers do panic planting saying now that the rains fell, let’s plant early; they gamble with the rainfall and sometimes it favours them.
Hussaini said with the impact of climate change, it had become challenging to predict the exact period for farmers to embark on planting.
He said that farmers do not get enough returns on investments because they incur more money, in replanting their farmlands after failed first attempt at planting.
Hussaini advised farmers in the state to embrace the use of certified seeds as approved by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), to boost productivity and improve their incomes.
“In view of the short rainfall in the state, I advise farmers to go for extra early maturing seeds which take 60 to 70 days to mature or the early maturing ones which take 90 days,” he said.
He commended the state government for providing funds for agricultural researches to improve the sector.
