Ayedun (Ekiti) – Coco yam farmers in Ekiti on Wednesday expressed happiness over bumper harvest of the crop.
A cross section of the farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ayedun, Ikole Local Government Area of the state, that the season had been beneficial to them.
One of the farmers, 65 years old Moses Sheidu, told NAN with a smile that he sold five baskets of cocoyam after harvesting.
Sheidu said he had been cultivating coco yam for the past 15 years, adding that this year’s harvest doubled the yield of previous years.
He attributed the bountiful yields to the weather condition which was favourable for the growth of crop.
On his part, a septuagenarian, Joseph Alabi, said he recorded a good harvest from his one hectare.
He said the money realised from the sales would enable him to relocate to his hometown in Osun state soon, due to old age.
Alabi urged other farmers to utilise proceeds from the sales of their cocoyam on tangible things saying next year farming season may not be favourable.
Speaking on the bumper harvest, a widow, Mrs Alaba Odeyemi, said the just- concluded farming season was exceptional compared to past years.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Odeyemi was optimistic that her living standard would improve after the sales of all her cocoyams as she would be able to meet most of her financial needs.
Mr Adewale Alege, a retired school teacher who practices subsistence farming, however said he did not cultivate the crop in large quantity.
He said he would have been among the happy farmers celebrating the season.
Alege called on fellow retirees to venture into agriculture as it was now profitable in the state to enhance their living condition. (NAN)