Bauchi Launches 2023 Farming Season, Cautions On NIMET Predictions

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has flagged off the 2023 farming season in Aziare, Katagum Local Government Area of the state.
Noting that his administration has diversified the economic sector of the state to ensure food security, Mohammed assured that the agricultural sector would continue to receive priority.
“I want to draw the attention of our farmers to this year’s farming seasonal rainfall prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)”,  he stated.
NIMET had predicted that for most parts of the country, planting season would start towards the end of May 2023.
Warning that there may be flooding in some parts of the country, the Governor urged farmers to make good use of the NIMET prediction and avoid planting in areas that are prone to flooding.
Mohammed lamented the influx of armyworms which was recorded in some parts of the state at the beginning of last year’s farming season.
He said the development resulted in the destruction of crops and many farms.
The governor also said concerted efforts have been made by the State Government to control the invasion through a rapid spray.
“In order to avoid the recurrence of the incident this year, the Ministry of Agriculture has been directed to immediately make requirements and other measures to control the army worms menace immediately”, he said.
He directed that fertilizer be sold directly to farmers to guard against shylock marketers, adding that adequate fertilizer and other farming implements had been made available to meet the growing demands of farmers across the state.
Mohammed announced that the Bauchi Fertilizer Blending Company blended 200 trucks of NPK 20-10-10 fertilizer.
The Governor also said NPK fertilizer is to be sold to farmers at N15,000 against the production cost of N17,800.
In his welcome address, Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Jidauna Tula Mbami, appealed to farmers to adhere to the prediction of (NIMET) of low rainfall in parts of the country.
On his part, the Chairman, All Farmers Association, Alhaji Yusuf Gambo, commended the State Government for subsidizing the amount of fertilizer and other farming inputs.
He said the gesture would go a long way in encouraging large-scale farming across the state.