The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that the recent rainfall in Ibadan in February is misleading, cautioning farmers not to begin planting early to avoid potential drought.
Building on this, the Oyo State Meteorological Manager, Mr Emmanuel Udoh, gave the advice on Monday in Ibadan during a programme tagged: ‘Dissemination of 2026 Weather Forecast in Oyo State.’
Udoh, while providing advisories to guide farmers in the coming farming season, said that the 2026 onset of rain, which marks the beginning of the planting season, falls between April 15 and the end of April.
“We consider when soil moisture reaches 50 per cent, which is enough for crop nutrition and growth.
“This is what we call the ‘onset of rain,’ the right time for farmers to plant,” he said.
He noted that recent rainfall is not suitable for planting, so farmers should not be tempted to begin.
The manager urged farmers to heed the information and follow the advisories issued for the onset of rain across the state’s 33 local government areas.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the government would continue to give priority to agricultural development in the state.
Olaleye explained that the weather forecast advisories for the planting season would provide farmers in the state with crucial information on the best time to start planting and help them make informed decisions.
He also highlighted the state government’s efforts to support agriculture, noting that in 2025, about 12,000 bags of fertiliser were distributed to farmers.
“Ploughing costs for about 30,000 hectares were also subsidised,” the commissioner said.
The farmers’ representatives at the event urged the state government to boost security measures, to enable them to cultivate without anxiety of being kidnapped or facing attacks from roaming herders who destroy their farms.
Continuing the call for government involvement, the chairman of the All Farmers Association (AFAN) in the state, Mr Abass Adewunmi, urged the government to take decisive action to resolve conflicts between herders and farmers, which have been affecting agricultural activities.
Adewunmi also encouraged cassava farmers not to be disheartened by the recent drop in cassava prices, but to take advantage of the upcoming rainy season to plant more cassava.
Further emphasising the importance of prompt support, Pa Bamiji Alabi, a farmers’ leader in Akinyele Local Government Area, warned that delays in providing inputs and other forms of assistance would hinder farmers’ progress.