Floods may affect cocoa, boost rice output this year - NiMet

Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has, in its latest weather outlook, indicated that incidents of flooding in parts of the country this year may affect cocoa crop and boost rice output. According to NiMet, irregular rainfall cause flooding in no less than 32 states before the end of this year’s wet season.


NiMet Director General Sani Mashi said, “When you have serious cases of flooding, the tree crops will be forced to accommodate more water than they can absorb. Unlike a cereal crop like rice that can be submerged, cocoa will be seriously hampered.”

Wet conditions like those created by flooding, causes fungal diseases such as black pod which reduces cocoa’s output and quality. While many cocoa farmers in the country lament the lack of means to acquire chemical sprays to fight the fungal diseases, some rice farmers in flood-prone areas of Jigawa state appreciate the excess water to irrigate crops including tomatoes, peppers, sorghum and corn.

With 2015-2016 output estimated at 190,000 metric tonnes by the International Cocoa Organization, Nigeria ranks seventh among the world’s cocoa producers. Nigeria is also looking to save foreign exchange as it struggles to recover from its worst economic downturn in 25 years.


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