The Dean of Ikpayongo Deanery, Rev. Fr. Solomon Mfa Ukeyima, has urged farmers in Benue State to preserve their meagre harvests amid concerns over the early cessation of rainfall and its devastating impact on crop production.
Benue State has witnessed increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns, with prolonged dry spells affecting crop development and, in some instances, flooding destroying farmlands.
Fr. Ukeyima, popularly known as Tor Kyegh Sha Shwa (Tor KSS), cautioned farmers against the temptation to sell off their remaining farm produce for quick money, particularly rice, warning that the prevailing agricultural situation calls for prudence.
He expressed concern that the abrupt cessation of rainfall in 2026 had left several farms devastated, with rice and other crops wilting in the fields and farmers facing poor harvests.
Fr. Ukeyima advised those who had managed to salvage anything from their farms not to gamble with it, stressing the need to preserve available food supplies in anticipation of possible shortages.
Crops particularly affected by erratic weather conditions include rice, maize, soya beans, and beans, raising fears of reduced food production and increased economic hardship for farming households.
Fr. Ukeyima, founder of Tomsule Doo Pati (TDP), promotes agricultural development and self-reliance through the Smart-Agro Cooperative, encouraging young people to venture into the cultivation of grains, roots, tubers and fruits as a means of economic empowerment.
