Prepare for 2025 farming season, farmers urged

By Fatima Muraina
Farmers in Ondo State have been urged to begin preparations for the 2025 planting season.
The Director of Weather Services in the Agro-Climatology Department of the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Jide Adewale, , made this call during an interview with The Hope in Akure, the state capital.
Adewale advised farmers to start land preparations by identifying or securing suitable locations for their farms, particularly for those new to farming.
He further recommended that farmers with existing farms begin their land preparation, based on the type of crops they plan to cultivate for the upcoming season.
He noted that rainfall is expected within the next two months, but cautioned farmers not to rush into planting just yet.
“Farmers should wait until the rain stabilises for the farming season before planting,” he said.
Adewale also mentioned that his department would soon attend the annual rainfall prediction conference in Abuja, coordinated by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
“The rainfall prediction for the year will be rolled out, which will help us in planning and providing advice to farmers for the year. So, that’s what we are expecting. Anytime from now, we’ll go for that,” he added.
He encouraged farmers to follow weather reports at the start of the rainy season before planting any crops.
In addition, Adewale cautioned farmers clearing land to ensure they fire-trace their farms before burning to prevent fire outbreaks in the farmlands and surrounding areas.
“Before embarking on any bush burning, they must ensure that the farm area is fire-traced. That is, they should prepare the area beforehand to ensure that the fire does not escalate or spread beyond the boundaries they expect,” he concluded.