On Sunday, the Kogi government and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) called for prayers for rainfall following the devastating effects of drought on farm crops and food security.

The agriculture commissioner, Timothy Ojomah, and AFAN chairman, Salihu Adobayi, made the call during an interview in Lokoja.

Mr Adobayi said, “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 are 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 in my maize farm yesterday, and it was a pitiful situation. Before the drought, what we saw in most farms across the state was very encouraging.”

The AFAN boss added, “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 looking very promising until the drought set in. Our hope is in God, and the prediction of NiMET is that there can be serious downpours beginning August 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.

Mr Ojomah disclosed that the state government sought opportunities to go into fully mechanised farming by providing farmers with irrigation facilities,  especially solar-powered water pumps.

Mr Ojomah stated, “We 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 the production of solar water pumping machines for our farmers in the state. In that wise, farming will not be restricted to raining 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 a longer time before going back to the farm.”

Also, Mr Adobayi said the seizure of rain for one month has negatively affected the state government’s plans for farmers in Kogi. The AFAN chairman noted that most 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.”

He added, “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.”

(NAN)