Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State chapter, Mr Romanus Eze, has advised farmers in the state not to rush into planting because of perceived early rains.
Eze said farmers should not be deceived into commencing farming activities by the current light showers
According to him, first rains of every year will not even wet the soil for planting crops, but will only reduce the atmospheric heat and dust.
“There are no assurances in planting crops with the first rains. I will not call it rain, but a drop in form of rain.
“The rain is not for farming; so, farmers should not start farming with it because it is only showers,” he said.
Eze also said that early rains would not result in bountiful harvest, adding that planting with it in the past had been wasted efforts.
“In the past, we had witnessed such deceptive early rains and at the end of the day, crops did not do well.
“Early rains should not be relied upon to penetrate the soil for planting,” he said.
The AFAN chairman enjoined farmers to rather prepare their farmlands for planting and other farming activities in March when more rains are expected.
