Irregular Rainfall Threatens Farmers’ Bumper Harvest, As Crops Develop Stunted Growth Over Inadequate Water

Irregular rainfall is adversely affecting the growth and plantation of arable crops in Osun State, findings have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that some planted crops and vegetables like maize, cassava, tomatoes, pepper and jute leaves were not having proper growth as a result of inadequate water.

The crops have been stunted, making some of them which are due for seed production to have very little or no seed on them.

According to findings by this medium, the irregular rainfall has discouraged many of the farmers from planting the arable crops three months after the planting season started.

Some maize farms visited by OSUN DEFENDER during the week in Osogbo metropolis wore burning look, as the crops were shrinking.

Also, some vegetable farms visited at Agbedi, Egbedore local government of Osun State, were not having lively look; the jutes leaves were tiny while other vegetables were brownish in colour.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that rain has for over a month been falling once in a week, a development that exposed the crops to harsh weather and heat from the ground.

Arable crops and vegetable farmers in the State have decried the irregular rainfall, describing it as a serious threat to their bumper harvest.

According to the farmers, the irregular rainfall has resulted into stunted growth for the crops which has reduced their production capacity.

The farmers lamented that the crops, especially maize have not been able to produce expected ears as a result of the irregular rainfall, thereby reducing the quantity and quality of harvest to have.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, an arable crops farmer, Comrade Yemi Ayanlade, said the shortage of rainfall has resulted to loss for the farmers, adding that some of the farmers could not have profitable harvest.

Ayanlade said some of the farmers who took loan to plant maize might not be able to repay the it as a result of the stunted growth of the crop, occasioned by irregular rainfall.

He said: “The shortage of rain has destroyed so many farms and it has affected farmers a lot. All efforts put into ploughing the land and planting maize have been put to waste.

“Once we plant maize, we count the days to harvest. Maize should be harvested after 90 days of plantation. But the crop needs rain from time-to-time to grow and produce ears, unlike Cassava which doesn’t require much rain.

“Once rain is not falling regularly, the maize will not germinate or produce very well, and it is a loss for farmers.

“Some of the farmers took loans to plant maize; and they have been calculating what to get and how to repay the loan with an expectation of profitable harvest. But the irregular rainfall is dashing their hope and expectation now.

“All the maize farms at Egbedi have developed stunted growth because there is no enough water for them to grow. A stunted crop can not have good seed. That is a loss to the farmers.”

The Chairman, Integrated Agricultural Services, Osun State, Mr Adeyemi Adejare, said the shortage of rainfall has posed serious threat to maize, pepper and tomatoes farmers in the state.

Adejare, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said: “The irregular rainfall is a very serious challenge to the farmers. It is even unexpected because we had invested a lot in farming. But the shortage of rain has made our efforts to crumble, most especially on tomatoes, peppers and the likes.

“For instance, this year, I invested nothing less than N4m on tomatoes and everything went down the rail due to lack of rain and lack of monitoring from the managers.

“Maize needs enough water to grow and produce ears; the irregular rainfall is a major problem.

“The heat that is coming from the ground is much more than the rain that we are witnessing.

“It is a very serious challenge for us. We just pray that we have more rain before the month runs out because we cannot give up. That’s what we do for a living.”

Speaking on the effect of the irregular rainfall on food security, Adejare said: “If the shortage of rainfall persists, it is going to affect food production and food security will be threatened. It is a serious problem. The food chain will be affected and it will also affect the economy and everything at large.

“Already, the inflation on farm inputs and chemical is not helping. The fertilizer I bought some weeks at N25,000 was sold for N50,000 without transportation last week.

“And now, after buying and planting, there is no rain. There is no way it will not have negative effects on food security and the economy.
“As things are going now, farmers might not be able to plant and harvest maize twice this year. This year, I myself have not planted maize because of the irregular rainfall.
“Our cooperative plant nothing less than 200 hectares of maize farm every year, but we have not even started ploughing, not to talk of planting because we are afraid of irregular rainfall.”