The Adamawa chapter of All Famers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has directed its members in flood-proned states to prepare for the 2013/2014 dry season farming to avert famine.
Mr. Venantius Jiddere, the state Chairman of the association, gave the directive in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Monday.
NAN reports that the directive was given following prediction by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that heavy flooding will affect the flood-proned states.
Jiddere noted that already, palpable fear had gripped their members in the flood-proned states, especially in Adamawa, where farmers were still planting grains.
“Working on the prediction of NIMET of impending heavier flood this year, there is fear that our total annual yields will drastically reduce, most especially the grains.
“Therefore, a call is necessary for farmers to prepare for higher participation in dry season farming to avert famine.” the chairman added.
He said that it was necessary to alert the farmers and government on what the present rainy season portended for the state.
“We had our first rain in Adamawa in March which recorded 21.00mm while in the whole of April, there was no single rain.
“The month of May had nine days of showers that recorded 45.00 mm and in June, there were five days that recorded rain with one of the days recording 105.00mm which caused a lot of discomfort and flooding in many parts of the state,” he said.
The chairman also called on the federal and state governments to continue with the trainer to trainee programme which had been abandoned in some states of the federation.
He pointed out that the programme would enable many farmers in all parts of the country to get access and benefit from modern technologies in agriculture.
“The national food security programme can not be achieved if Nigerian farmers lack modern farming technology,” the chairman added.
