PREPARATIONS FOR FARMING SEASON: BENUE FARMERS WORRY OVER INACCURATE PREDICTIONS BY NIMET
By Saviour Ugah
A cross section of farmers in Benue State has expressed concern over inaccurate predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
A rice farmer in Agatu local government area of the state, Ode Amedu, complained that last year NIMET predicted that rainfall would last till November, pointing out that many farmers that relied on the prediction incurred great losses as it was not to be.
Amedu lamented that it was also predicted that rainfall in 2025 would delay till April 25th, explaining that the reverse was still the case as the first rainfall was witnessed on the 26th of February in some parts of the state.
A groundnut farmer in Makurdi local government area, Aondowase Terkimbi said he was discouraged by the NIMET prediction not to clear his land for his ground nut farm as early as he used to do in the past.
Terkimbi urged NIMET to properly cross check their facts before releasing their predictions to ensure its accuracy.
A melon farmer in Adeke said since most farmers depend on rainfall for farming, NIMET should make effort to come with accurate predictions to boost food security rather than falsesood that could mislead the farmers and make them not to trust them.
The transitional Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Benue State chapter, Chief Owoicho Anyebe, stated that though farmers lost heavily last year due to NIMET, it does not mean that their prediction always fail.
Anyebe urged farmers to be patient and tread with caution so as not to hit the rock, stressing that the weather is bound to change.
The AFAN chairman said a wise farmer cannot afford to turn his or her back completely on NIMET.
