NIMET Prediction: Farmers Count Losses

With the likelihood of
the 2013 expected flooding not coming to pass as predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET) among others, farmers who hitherto would have planted crops but did not plant are counting their losses.
For example, the people of Igboama, Ogbogolo in the Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State noted for farming along the river banks are counting their losses.
The paramount ruler of the community, Chief Geofrey Ikogha who spoke to our correspondent over the weekend at his country home said his people believed the predictions and decided not to have a repeat occurrence of what happened to their farms in 2012.
Chief Ikogha, who is  also a farmer said majority of his townsmen including himself heeded the warnings by the agency.
According to him, before the flood of 2012, he was not buying  garri, plantain and even banana among other farm produce as he plants them all the year round.
He expressed regret that the effect of last year’s flooding that devastated all his farmlands and those of his people was still felt across the land.
He said the warnings which made his people not to plant again in order not to experience what happened last year has doubled their anguish.
The Igboama monarch said the few who took risk and planted were now thanking their stars even though they did not plant enough.
Also in some parts of Abua that were prone to the flood of last year, most farmers did not venture into planting their crops.
According to the Community Development Committee chairman, (CDC) of Aminigboko, he so much believed in the warnings that he instructed his entire family to avoid serious farming in 2013.
He said it was like a dream for him and his family to be seen buying garri from others.
He said since he became a family man, he has not bought garri and plantian even as he said he produces them  in abundance for his household all the year round.
According to the CDC boss, the development has only confirmed that man’s knowledge was limited even as he said the experts owe Nigerians a lot of explanations on the matter.