The Biodun Oyebanji-led government in Ekiti State through its Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade has advised farmers in the State and other southwest States in Nigeria to end the first farming season in the year in July and start the second season towards the end of August.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, Mr. Boluwade also advised poultry farmers to lower their stocking density during the heat stress period between February and May, adding that the floor of the pens should always be kept dry to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria as well as fungi common during the wet season.

 

 

Mr. Boluwade explained that the advices are based on the Nigerian Meteorology Agency’s weather forecast for the year.

 

 

According to him, NiMET’s prediction for the year 2024 indicated that the onset of the growing season is likely to vary from normal to delayed in the most parts of the country, adding that it was predicted that Farmers would have normal short length of the growing season and therefore encouraged to plant early and use early maturity varieties of crop.

 

 

Boluwade assured that the State Government would carry out massive sensitization of farmers in the State towards achieving optimal yield in the year, adding that Agricultural Development Project (ADP) and Fadama extension officers would visit the farmers in their farmsteads, communities and Local Government Areas to properly inform and educate farmers on how to utilize the NiMET’s prediction to the benefit of all stakeholders.

 

 

He stated that “agriculture is the art and science of growing crops and raising livestock. We subscribe to NiMet weather forecast every year to serve as a guide for farmers. Farmers in the southwest are advised to end the first season in July and start 2nd season in late August while Poultry farmers are advised to lower stocking density during the heat stress period (Feb -May).

 

 

“The State ADP/FADAMA extension officers will step down this information to all our farmers in their farmsteads/town/local govt. We will use radio/TV outlets to spread the information.

 

 

“It is very good that NIMET provides some level of rainfall predictions to guide Nigerian farmers.

 

 

“Government will continue to make improved seeds, seedlings of rice, maize etc and cassava cuttings available through the ADP to farmers to intensify production because we now have a lot of companies that will off-take the produce from the State”