Premature planting: Wait for NIMET’s directive, Ondo advises farmers

By Fatima Muraina
Farmers in Ondo State have been urged to hold off on planting despite the recent pockets of rainfall in some areas in the state, with officials cautioning against premature cultivation to prevent unnecessary losses, akin to those witnessed last year.
Mr. Olajide Adewale, Director of Meteorology Services at the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, issued the warning while addressing the recent rainfall observed in parts of the state.
Speaking in an interview with Weekend Hope, Adewale urged farmers to continue their preparations for the upcoming planting seasons, but refrain from planting until further guidance from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
“They should expect us to update them. So, the farmers should make The Hope Newspaper their friend for now, because it is the only media organisation updating farmers on the weather situation for their agricultural production,” he said.
Adewale explained that clouds have begun to gather, leading to intermittent rainfalls in certain areas. But this do not signify the commencement of the official rainy season.
“We will still be having it like that; scattered rainfall, until we have the onset of proper rainfall,” he clarified.
He further revealed that experts would be attending the seasonal climate prediction conference in Abuja next week, after which the public would be informed on the anticipated weather patterns for the year.
Although the current rains do not directly affect farming activities, they provide some relief from the harsh weather and facilitate land preparation, he added.
In response to the situation, Mr. Kayode Akinrinade, the immediate past Chairman of the state’s Maize Farmers Association, affirmed that farmers are now better prepared and are refraining from planting, following the lessons learned from previous seasons.
Akinrinade noted that the rainfall has not been consistent across all regions and urged farmers in areas that have not experienced rain to resist the temptation to plant.
He cautioned that early rainfall could be divisive, leading to potential losses for those who act prematurely.
“Nobody can plant with the first rain other than to clear the land. You know there will be dust in those areas. They can use it to prepare their land, in readiness for cultivation,” he advised.
He further suggested that maize farmers begin land preparation by clearing bushes, although if mechanised farming is used, it may not be necessary.
“If it rains a second or third time, then they can take the tractor to their farms and plough in readiness for planting,” he concluded.