Some farmers in Bauchi have expressed dismay over the poor harvest and low yield recorded due to a rice blast outbreak this cropping season.

A cross-section of farmers said in an interview with journalists on Monday that the situation had exposed them to losses and made the trade less attractive. 

Kabiru Abdullahi, a rice grower, said the blast outbreak ravaged his plantation and resulted in low yields at harvest. 

He said the blast outbreak largely infested the plants after low rainfall.

Mr Abdullahi said the low and irregular rain pattern was a major obstacle to rice cultivation in the area.

“We faced a series of challenges due to the irregular rainfall. The rain sometimes stopped for several days, and when it rained, it was insufficient to nourish the plants.

“I harvested 15 bags of paddy as opposed to 22 bags in the past,” he said.

Another farmer, Suleiman Khalid, who corroborated the earlier opinion, said inadequate rain severely affected his farm.

He said the plantation wilted due to a prolonged dry spell, resulting in low yields.

“I normally harvested about 30 bags of paddy in the previous years, but that dropped to less than 10 bags this season,” he said.

Commenting, Ya’u Mohammed, programme manager, Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSAPD), attributed the situation to climate change.

He said rice blast disease manifested due to a dry spell and low rainfall.

Mr Mohammed said farmers faced drought, rice blast, and other crop diseases this season.

“The disease becomes more pronounced when the rainfall is inadequate, contributing to poor harvests in some rice farms,” he said. 

He urged farmers to follow advice from extension workers and weather advisories issued by relevant government agencies to guard against losses.

(NAN)