By Fatima Muraina

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In a bid to ensure food sufficiency in Ondo state, rice farmers have indicated their readiness to tackle the heavy flood predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and assured on bumper harvest.

The state Chairman of Sunshine Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Prince George Oladapo spoke in an interview with The Hope in Akure.

Oladapo said over 70 percent of rice farmers in the state have been equipped to curb flooding that may affect their production.

“A lot of measures have been put in place and we are educating rice farmers all over the state to enable them prepare ahead in the design of their rice farms and to make provisions for irrigation purposes,” he said.

His words: “Our preparation ahead will go a long way in minimizing the effects of flooding from damaging the entire farmland,”

“We are taking proactive measures to ensure that farmers do not suffer devastating effects of flooding on their farms so as to avoid food shortag,e” he stated.

He also called on farmers to get their farms insured. He advised, that they should get an agricultural-based organisation that is agro-friendly so that if flooding occurs, insurance firm would take over the liabilities of such farm as agreed.

Also, President, Ondo state Farmers Congress, Mr Abayomi Monilari said they have advised farmers to give a maximum length away from the river bank for rice cultivation.

This, he noted, is the only way to avoid flood because flooding is a natural phenomenon which cannot be controlled .

“Where a farmer cultivated at a distance of 20meters away from the river bank and experience flooding, such farmer should give about 100 meters or more from the river bank.

He urged farmers not to use swam farming alone but to go into irrigation to avoid high risk.

He advised farmers on the need to plant early maturing Paddy rice which gets matured before excess rainfall.