NAN-AE-9
Advice
By Martha Agas
Jos, April 13, 2017 (NAN) A plant scientist, Dr Kyenpia Deshi, said on Thursday that weather forecast outstations would soon be established in Plateau to advise farmers on the appropriate time to cultivate specific crops.
Deshi of the Department of Plant Science and Technology, University of Jos, made this known in Jos at a workshop organised by Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN) to tackle the menace of blight on potato farms.
He said that the weather forecast outstations would be established in Jos city and towns across Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“The prevailing climatic conditions on the Plateau have made potato to be susceptible to blight infection; this is because of the humid conditions in which the blight thrives.
“The potato foliage gets destroyed within seven to 14 days after infection.
“We intend to establish weather forecast outstations in the Jos metropolis as well as in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs to advise farmers as to when to begin potato planting in their farms.
“We believe these stations should cover all the potato producing areas; we would analyse the weather reports and advise farmers appropriately.
“When the weather is good for planting potato, organisms causing blight would not feed on the crop but when the weather is humid and cold, we will advise them to spray fungicides on their farms,“ she said.
Deshi said that blight was a fungal infection, which not only affected potatoes but also other crops like tomato, garden egg and pepper, among others
He said that potato blight could be controlled through the application of appropriate fungicides at the right time and by taking cognisance of prevailing weather conditions.
In his presentation, Mr Susinya Habila, also from the Department of Plant Science and Technology, University of Jos, said that the fungicides to be sprayed must be in droplets, so as to avoid its excessive presence on the crops.
He also said that rotten potato should be promptly destroyed and not kept on the farm because it could affect the entire farm and cause serious damage.
“ Fungicides can be sprayed for protective, curative and eradicative purposes,’’ he said.
In her address, Mrs Jessica Vonkat, the Chairperson of COWAN in Plateau, said that workshop was aimed at assisting farmers and members of the association to get higher potato yields.
“This workshop has further enlightened us to know the measures to take when we are faced with potato blight.
“It is a relief to know that when we are faced with the blight epidemic, we can plant other crops on the same farmland to control the blight while still getting the same commercial value for our potatoes,’’ she said.
New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COWAN organised the workshop, in collaboration with the Research and Development Directorate of University of Jos. (NAN)
MAA/AOS/OOK
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Dayo Komolafe