Kogi Government and Farmers Association Call for Prayers as Drought Devastates Crops and Food Security

The Kogi Government and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have called for prayers for rainfall, following the devastating effects of drought on farm crops and food security in the state. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, the commissioner for Agriculture, Timothy Ojomah, and AFAN chairman, Salihu Adobayi, made the appeal, citing the severe drought that has been affecting the state for over a month.

According to Ojomah, the drought has had a significant impact on the state’s agricultural sector, with most crops, particularly rice and maize, affected. “We have to resort to prayers for God to help send rain to us in Kogi because we may not achieve the desired food production and security,” he said.

Adobayi noted that the state government had provided 8,000 hectares of land to various farmers for cultivation, but the drought has set back their plans. “Mostly affected are rice and maize farms, especially those that are almost maturing. I was in my maize farm yesterday, and it was a pitiful situation,” he said.

The AFAN chairman added that the state government was exploring alternative solutions, including the use of solar-powered water pumps to irrigate farms. “We think that’s the way to go because this fossil fuel is not cheap to buy, and it’s going higher and higher by the day,” Ojomah said.

The government’s plan is to introduce full mechanized farming, which would enable farmers to cultivate crops throughout the year, regardless of the weather. “In that situation, you will see that there’s food for our teaming masses. This is because one can cultivate, plant, and in the next three months, harvest,” Ojomah explained.

Adobayi also expressed hope that the government’s prediction of a serious downpour beginning August 18 would bring relief to the affected farmers. “If the rain falls, there is hope that some crops can be saved. But if it persists, then it will not augur well for us because the crops depend on water to survive,” he said.

The Kogi Government’s efforts to address the drought come as the state faces a food security crisis, with many farmers struggling to maintain their livelihoods. The government’s decision to invest in solar-powered water pumps is seen as a step in the right direction, as it would enable farmers to cultivate crops year-round, regardless of the weather.

In the meantime, farmers in the state are calling on the government to take immediate action to address the drought and ensure food security for the people of Kogi.