Thousands of dry season farmers in Taraba State are witnessing bumper harvests, Weekend Trust findings revealed.

The state, which witnessed influx of irrigation farmers from across the country at the beginning of this year’s dry season farming, is now a hub of paddy rice following bumper harvest being witnessed by farmers. 

Findings revealed that the harvest of paddy rice has begun in irrigation fields located in seven local government areas of the state and many farmers harvested over 1400 bags of paddy rice. 

Some farmers interviewed expressed happiness over the good yield they are experiencing this year.

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Mallam Ibrahim Sule told Weekend Trust that he planted six 100 kg bags of rice seed and has hope of getting a good harvest. 

Ibrahim Sule stated that although the farmers faced high costs of seeds, fertiliser, labour and petrol, the bumper harvest being witnessed is an encouragement. 

He said from all indications; dry season farmers are going to make huge profits even though the ban on foreign rice was lifted.

Alhaji Haruna Sarkin Sheka, in Mutum-Biyu, told Weekend Trust that there was less harmattan this dry season, and that was a factor that aided good yield for rice farms.

He said quelea birds and pest attacks on rice farms were not recorded in all the irrigation fields across the state, a development he said also helped in the bumper harvest witnessed by farmers.

Haruna stated that the harvest will start in full swing across all the irrigation fields in seven local government areas of the state in the first week of April. 

Meanwhile, newly harvested paddy rice is now sold at N50 000 per 100kg bag and the price may either go down or up depending on the demand of paddy rice in the markets in Taraba State.