THE Jigawa State Agricultural Research Institute (JSARI) Kazaure, has advised farmers in the state on how to manage their farms for better yield during the 2018 cropping season.

The Acting Director General of the institute, Dr Danladi Damisa, gave the advice in a statement in Dutse on Wednesday.

According to him, mulching and other moisture conservation techniques should be employed by farmers.

“Farmers around Jigawa state are advised to source for early maturing, high yielding and drought resistant varieties of seed to bring about bumper harvest.

“The institute has at present variety of seeds of millet and groundnut that have been tried on its field stations, and are ready to be sold to farmers at a minimal cost,” he assured.

Damisa added that the institute was ever ready to give technical advice to farmers at all times.

He further advised the farmers to bear in mind that due to the increasing unpredictability of weather conditions all over the world, “it would be wise for them to apply caution and a sense of perennial preparedness, no matter what the predictions contain’’.

He added that though there would be early rainfall, farmers should not plant until the rain has established properly.

Damisa stressed that there was also likelihood of experiencing severe dry spell in June.

He further advised that preferable planting dates should be as from the 15th of June in the northern part and first week of the same month in the southern part.

The director general said planting of economic trees like Gum Arabic, Date Palm, Shear and Jetropha, among others, should be encouraged especially in the northern part of the state.

“The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted normal amount of rainfall in 2018 in most parts of the country, even as some parts of the country may experience flood.

“Generally, the forecast indicates normal to earlier than normal onset, normal cessation and normal rainfall amounts in many parts of the country.

“Also dry spells during the rainy season may be more frequent and severe which may be between 10-18 days in some parts of the extreme North.

“While the little dry spell or August break in parts of the South are expected to be pronounced.

“These are risk factors for farmers in the affected areas and have to be carefully and scientifically managed.

“So based on the above NIMET’s predictions, the institute would like to advice Jigawa farmers on the best way to manage their farms for a better yield for the 2018 wet season,” Damisa said.

He pointed out that the Southern parts of the state; Birnin Kudu, Gwaram, Dutse among others were expected to experience early onset of rains from May 15 to May 30.

“While the Eastern and north-western parts of the state like Hadejia, Gumel and Kazaure are predicted to have rain onset from June 1.

The director general added that the end of 2018 growing season was expected to commence from September 28 from the northern part and would progress southwards in Jigawa till October.

– Apr. 11, 2018 @ 12:50 GMT |

BE