By Correspondent in Lokoja
For farmers in kogi state to get acquainted with when to plant crops to ensure bumper harvest,the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in collaboration with Nigerian Meteorological Agency-(NiMet), has trained farmers on Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to enhance maximum farm productivity and food security.
The VCDP is a programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), assisted under United Nations (UN).
Speaking to journalists on Friday in Lokoja, after the two-day workshop, tagged: ”Public Presentation and Workshop On Downscaled Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP)”, Mr Frank Njar, the National Irrigation Engineer, VCDP Abuja, said the training would ensure maximum yield of farm produce.
”The workshop is to ensure that our farmers start a farming season at the right time; most times they either start early or late, and discover that rains are not coming as they are suppose to.
”So, the workshop is to educate farmers on when to start planting to enable them eventually plant crops for two seasons during raining and one for dry season.
”If they do not start in good time, you discover that they might lose it, because every crop has its own planting period”, he said.
”So, we are training them to know the right time to plant their crops so that they will not have any shortfall in their planting”, he said.
He noted that the workshop was going on simultaneously in three centres across the nine VCDP States in the country.
According to him, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States’ participants are currently doing their training in Enugu, while Kogi and Niger States are in Lokoja; and Nassarawa, Taraba and Benue are doing theirs in Lafia.
Also speaking, Dr Mrs Stella Adejoh, the Kogi State Coordinator for IFAD-VCDP Programme, said VCDP was into rice and cassava value chain in the state.
She said that the VCDP was collaborating with NiMet to train its Extension and Agro production officers, and some Lead farmers on seasonal climate predictions.
According to her, the training will enable farmers to know the ‘onset of rain’, and when to plant crops across the VCDP local government areas in Kogi and Niger States.
”Looking at Kogi State generally, some LG have early onset of rain, and some late and others have it normal”.
”So, basically the essence of the training is to educate farmers to know when to start planting a particular crop for maximum yield and ensure food security in Kogi State and in Nigeria as a whole.
She noted there were over 50 participants from Kogi and Niger States, and urged them to go back to their benefiting local government areas to cascade the training to farmers at the grassroots.
According to her, the five VCDP LGAs in Kogi are: Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Ibaji and Olamaboro LGAs.
She added that there would also be a Weather Station to be established in the state by NiMet.
On his part, Mr Oyegade Adeleke, Asst. General Manager, NiMet, sai the agency’s mandate was to provide climate and weather information for all sectors of the economy that are weather sensitive or utilise weather information.
”IFAD-VCDP are trying to help farmers to be more productive in their farming activities and they have realised that weather information is very key for maximum yield of farm produce.
”We have given the farmers the Onset information about when rain would be stabilised for planting and not necessarily the first day of the rain.
”We have also given the participants the onset information for rain for different local governments in Kogi and Niger States”, he said.
Adeleke added that participants had been educated on ‘Length of Season’ information, to help them know types of crop to plant during the seasons, projected ripple amount and cessation date.
One of the Participants,John Fagbemi, an Extension Agent from Kabba/Bunu LGA, said that they had learnt a lot of things about rain and dry season planting within the two-day training.
”Personally, as extension agent, I have learnt a better way to relate and educate the farmers on how to always put weather in consideration for our farming activities in a better way.
”We will go back to our local governments and cascade the training to our farmers at the grassroots.” Fagbemi said.
