By Muhammad Nasir
Sokoto, June 16, 2022
The Alumni Association of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has tasked journalists to intensify awareness on the 2022 rainfall characteristics for agro-ecological zones in Nigeria.
The group, under the aegis of Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE), Sokoto State chapter, made the call at a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation and press conference in Sokoto on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted that the length of the growing season for the year 2022 will range between 96 to 310 days across the country.
NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) predicted that some parts of the country around Kwara, Oyo, Jigawa, Sokoto and Kebbi States are likely to experience a shorter growing season.
In his presentation, Malam Lawal Maidoki, President, Sasakawa Alumni Association, UDUS chapter, said the meeting was convened to accomplish the philosophy of extension education.
“This is aimed at helping the local communities in the identification and finding solutions to problems on their farms and homes.
“The meeting is in order to create awareness on the prediction made by NiMet on the 2022 rainfall characteristics for agro-ecological zones in Nigeria.
“The prediction indicates that there is going to be drought and hunger, especially in our northwestern region in the forthcoming cropping season.
“This is as a result of the forecast and banditry effect, resulting in abandoning farmlands uncultivated and higher costs of food items,” he said.
Maidoki further said as trained extension personalities, the group recognises journalists as important stakeholders towards changing the narrative, with the help of God.
“We have recommended crop intensification, which increases yield per unit, help to maximise use of land, decreases the spread of pests and diseases and increases the soil fertility and productivity.
“People should utilise available land within and around houses, offices and other public places, to cultivate legumes or vegetables to address the gap created.
“Our farmers should make more efforts in sourcing seeds and farm inputs as early as possible before the onset of rain, because in agriculture, time waits for no one,” he said.
Maidoki said there is need for agricultural institutions, including banks and NGOs, to also facilitate production in whatever way they can.
“There is need for mobilisation on production of livestock, poultry and fisheries as an alternative to mitigate the food scarcity envisaged,” he said.
Maidoki also said that the association identified the need to encourage the planting of economic trees as another means of providing food and revenues to the families in a sustainable manner.
On his part, Dr Aliyu Barau, Faculty of Agriculture, UDUS, urged farmers to utilise the limited period of rainfall and drastically minimise the 2022 prediction effects.
In their separate remarks, Hajiya Nafisa Aliyu and Murtala Ibrahim, the Manager, Sterling Bank, Non-Interest Banking, Sokoto, and representative of CBN, respectively, appreciated the association’s initiative.
The duo described the meeting as a wakeup call to all Nigerians and assured of greater involvement towards mitigating the current situation.
