NIMET gives farmers in Borno, Yobe early warning signals

In a renewed effort to build the capacity of communities to benefit from early warning systems, and to integrate this knowledge into their livelihoods, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned Borno farmers against the early planting of crops, despite heavy rain and windstorm that lasted for an hour in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Early warning is a major element of disaster risk reduction. Early action can often prevent a hazard turning into a human disaster by preventing loss of life and reducing the economic and material impacts.

NIMET Northeast Coordinator, Sabo Bitrus said the rainfall was inadequate to commence farming activities, like tilling of farmlands to plant various crops and vegetables.

He stressed that the planting of crops in Jere and Maiduguri Metropolitan Councils (MMC), was ill timed and called on farmers in Borno to hold on a little.
According to him, farmers must wait for the actual commencement of the rainy season before planting their crops.

His words: “It is true that we have witnessed rainfall recently in some parts of Borno and Yobe states. But we must understand that this does not mean that the rainy season has commenced.

“Before you can correctly say that the season has commenced, a specific amount of rainfall must have fallen and stabilized with sustained soil moisture for crops planting and tilling of farmlands and orchards”, he said.

Bitrus further disclosed that the onset for the 2017 cropping season in Borno state is usually by June 20 of every year.“In essence and in compliance with weather patterns for tilling and plantings, farmers must wait till June 20, 2017; when the actual rainy season has stabilized; before they can go to their farmlands to commence cultivation and planting of crops and vegetables,” he added.