Farmers in Lokoja are taking advantage of the the receded parts of the rivers Niger and Benue for dry season farming.
The two rivers form a confluence in the Kogi State capital.
North Central Trust noticed that farm beds have sprung up forming clusters around Kpata bank of the confluence. Crops like rice, maize, vegetable, red pepper and cassava are at different stages of growth, while vegetables and pepper are already due for harvesting.
However, rice seems to be a major crop of concentration with beds stretching several kilometers.
Water is drawn from the river using water pumps onto various individual farm clusters.
A popular farmer and cattle dealer, Malam Shuaibu Ibrahim, said farming activities have been taking place in the area for many decades.
“It’s not as if we just started this, this has served as irrigation alternative from the days of our fathers,” Shuaibu, one of the sons of the late district head of the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki Zango explained.
He said they normally start early and harvest in time before the water level increases during the next rainy season in order to avert flooding.
He said the area is fertile because of the wastes which are always washed in by flood when the rainy season is at its peak.
He explained that the initiative is providing sustenance to over 150 of them and their families at this period every year.
“I got 20 bags of paddy rice last year from this place and from all indication, I will surpass that this season.
“For other crops and vegetables, I can’t tell you the quantity I harvest each year because I don’t do mass harvest.
“As those ones mature family members, who need them, go there to harvest. The women sell the vegetables to buy other needs for the house,” he explained.
Another farmer, Malam Danladi Ibrahim, said he started selling fresh maize since last two weeks.
“I harvested four bags of fresh maize this morning (Monday). As they mature, I harvest because of demand,” he noted.
Malam Shuaibu however said it is not all rosy every year. “We lost everything to flood in 2012 and 2018 when the rain came earlier than we anticipated”.
Malam Shuaibu commended the state and federal governments for improving agriculture in the state but solicited more interventions to enable farmers access loan directly from banks.
Another rice farmer, Malam Danladi Ibrahim expressed worries that government is not doing enough to support farmers in its food sustenance drive.
According to him, the price of fertilizer is still beyond the reach of an average farmer, alleging that the commodity subsidised by government is hijacked by politicians and sold at market price to farmers.
“We are calling on the state government to come to the aid of farmers in Lokoja by making the fertilizer available at subsidised price and also providing improved seedings and other incentives to boost food production,” he appealed.
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