By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Photo credit:PMNews Nigeria.
Residents of Lokoja, kogi state capital, north central Nigeria,who have been praying and learning for rain had their prayer answered on Monday morning as rain showered and eased the tense heat in the area.
Our correspondent in Lokoja reports that the rain started at about 7.40 a.m on a slow note but the residents believe it is a sign of God listening to their prayers, adding that they would continue to pray and hope for more rain in no too distant days.
The rain, though subsided as at the time of this report but with a sign of returning with appreciable intensity,sent in cool atmosphere as against the heat that characterised Lokoja for the past two months.
The rain,however, returned around 5p.m with much volume, a development that saw many house wives, especially those whose houses lean on the benevolence of borehole owners for the supply of water to run domestic chores, cashing on the situation to fetch water with joy.
In a chat with residents at Gadumo quarters,some of who expressed sigh over the development,told The Reporters that have been enduring intense heat and praying seriously for “God to send down the rain.”
According to them, they have also intensified prayer, for God to ease the severe economic hardship in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole, which has made life nearly unbearable for them and their families.
Many residents said they have been exercising fear and farmers worried over the delay in rainfall in Lokoja and other parts of the state but expressed relief that the Monday rain would open the door for the much expected rain, not only for the state but Nigria at large.
Our correspondent recalls that Kogi Government and All Farmers Association of Nigeria on Sunday called for prayers for rainfall, following the devastating effects of drought on farm crops and food security in the state.
The Commissioner For Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojomah and AFAN Chairman, Salihu Adobayin made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
“We have to resort to prayers for God to help send rain to us in Kogi because we may not achieve the desired food production and security.
“For over a month now, there’s been no rain, and the devastating effects of drought in the state is going to hamper what the state government has done for farmers this year in terms of intervention.
“In fact, if things work right, we are expecting bumper harvests.
“Unfortunately, we are facing drought across the state right now. It has affected most of our crops. Mostly affected are rice and maize farms, especially those that are almost maturing. I was at my maize farm yesterday, and it was a pitiful situation,” Adobayin said.
According to Adobayin, before the drought, what was experienced in most farms across the state was very encouraging.
“This is because the government provided well over 8,000 hectares of land to various farmers for cultivation of Rice, Maize and Cassava, and all were cultivated and looked very promising until the drought set in.
“Our hope is in God and the prediction of NiMET that there can be a serious downpour beginning Aug. 18.
“If the rain falls, there is hope that some crops can be saved. But if it persists, then it will not augur well for us because the crops depend on water to survive, ” he said.
Ojomah disclosed that the state government was looking at opportunities of going into full mechanised farming by providing irrigation facilities, especially solar powered water pumps to farmers.
e think that’s the way to go because this fossil fuel is not cheap to buy, and it’s going higher and higher by the day.
“So we are thinking of investing in production of solar water pumping machines for our farmers in the state. In that wise, farming will not be restricted to the rainy season but all round seasons.
“In that situation, you will see that there’s food for our teaming masses. This is because one can cultivate, plant and in the next three months, harvest.
“It won’t be one seasonal thing again that you have to wait for longer before going back to the farm.”
Also, Adobayin said the seizure of rain one month has negatively affected the plans of the state government for farmers in the state.
The AFAN chairman noted that most of the crops were almost drying up and “we have resorted to serious prayers in groups, begging God for rain to fall on our crops and save the situation.
“The last rain we had was on July 11. Since then, we have been praying to God to send down rain.
“All the same, all hope is not lost. We believe God can still help us to experience a bumper harvest this year.
“If the government will introduce the use of solar water pumps for farmers in the state, it will place Kogi on a high pedestal in food production and security in the country.
“This is because it will help us overcome this drought that we are experiencing now and any that may surface in future.”
