Farmers in Oyo state have bemoaned the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on this year’s farming season, warning that urgent measures need to be taken to avert possible scarcity of food.
Mr David Ogundele, the Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State branch, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday that though wet season farming should have started in earnest, many farmers had yet to begin.
Ogundele said that the global pandemic, which had necessitated restriction of movement to prevent transmission, had hindered access to fund, farming inputs and even going to farms.
“Wet planting commenced since March; it will last till April ending. Commodities involved are all arable crops such as maize, rice, yam, melon, among others.
“Also planting of vegetables, permanent crops at the nurseries take place at this time.
“Time is not on our side as wet season will soon end. Dry planting season too may fail if care is not taken and we lack planting materials as well as finance.
“Now that all farmers are supposed to be on farm to engage on wet farming, we cannot move. Time is not in our favour while farming is seasonal.
“Also, processing for funds at various banks for wet season farming could have been concluded by now but bank transactions stand still. We are yet to buy or have inputs such as fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides.
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