News in Brief:
– Nigeria’s agriculture sector faces significant challenges due to erratic weather patterns as it is heavily reliant on rain, with flooding in the north and drought in the south causing widespread devastation.
– There is a need for government intervention in irrigation, climate-smart practices, and disaster preparedness to ensure food security.
Rainfed agriculture, a system reliant solely on precipitation for water supply, sustains billions worldwide. While it has been a cornerstone of food production for centuries, it is a precarious gamble against the whims of nature. Farmers who depend on this method live in constant uncertainty, their livelihoods teetering on the edge of drought or deluge.
Essentially, the unpredictability of rainfall poses immense challenges. Too little water can wither crops, while excessive precipitation can lead to erosion, flooding, and crop loss. This delicate balance is very obvious in parts of Northern Nigeria, which witness low rainfall for the most part, and massive flooding in times of heavy downpour. The increasing volatility of weather patterns due to climate change, has made rain-fed agriculture in Nigeria a high-stakes endeavor.
Impact of climate change on rainfed agriculture in Nigeria | North
Effectively, farmers have borne the brunt of climate change’s impact. Erratic rainfall patterns have disrupted traditional farming cycles. Farmers are grappling with unpredictable planting and harvesting seasons, leading to reduced yields and food insecurity.
Already, Nigeria’s official source for weather and climate data in the country, Nimet (Nigerian Meteorological Agency) has predicted flooding in most Northern states in the country. These states are Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi.
It is worthy to note that these are the major food producing areas of the country, being heavily agrarian. What this means is that food security is jeopardised by the situation, which leaves millions on the precipice of starvation.
Jigawa State alone has reported heavy agricultural losses as more than two thousand hectares of farmlands have already been washed away by flooding in 12 Local Government Areas of the state.
The case in not peculiar to Jigawa alone, as other states, like Zamfara, Sokoto and a few others have also been hard hit by intermittent rains leading to flooding, with the consequent destruction of food crops.
Challenges of drought | South West
However, the lack of rain in some other parts of Nigeria, especially in the Southern regions, has been a cause of concern to many farmers. In Osun state for example, the dire situation has led to residents seeking divine intervention in the face of prolonged drought.
Prayer sessions have been held in the state by the Moslem community, led by the Grand Imam of the state, Sheik Musa Animashaun. The cleric urged residents to seek God’s intervention in the matter, ‘with a pure heart’ in order to end the situation of lack of rainfall.
Expert slams reliance on divine intervention for weather challenges
However, reacting to this development of seeking divine intervention to weather problems, Dietician and Food Security Expert, Elohor Franklin said it was a throwback to ‘atavistic practices’.
He referred to other countries that were worse off in terms of regular rainfall in the world, but still heavy on agricultural productivity.
“Not taking anything away from or knocking the belief in divine assistance, I believe certain things need specific solutions. Even the bible says, ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.’ The examples of countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia, should give proper guidance on where our expectations should lie in terms of finding pragmatic solutions to problems such as this,” he said.
Furthermore, Franklin noted the agricultural productivity of the nations, despite their arid weather patterns.
“I don’t think Nigeria is more religious than either of them, yet they do not wait for divine assistance in solving issues of drought or lack of rainfall. Israel is known for its advanced irrigation systems and focus on high-value crops like avocados and dates. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is a major producer of dates and wheat through extensive irrigation. This is despite the fact that they both are very arid regions of the world,” he added.
Solutions to Nigeria’s drought and flooding crisis
Furthermore, the food security expert goes on to urge the government to step up measures to combat incidences of flooding. He stated that this can be achieved by strengthening river embankments, protecting communities along major rivers from overflow and removing debris in drainage channels to improve water flow.
Franklin also called for the ramping up of water dispersal technology in the area of irrigation to combat incidences of drought. He asserted that this will reduce reliance on rainfed agriculture, ultimately improving productivity in all agrarian regions of the country.
Nigeria’s response to drought and deluge
Meantime, Nigeria’s federal government has implemented several initiatives, to deal with especially water management situation for agricultural purposes. These include drought mitigation efforts, including the founding of the River Basin Development Authorities across the country, as well as irrigation projects.
Additionally, the promotion of drought-resistant crops, like Sorghum and Millet, have scored positively in the area of sustainable agriculture. Investments have also been made in drainage systems and flood control structures in some urban areas.
However, despite these efforts, challenges persist. These challenges include underfunding of projects, and difficulties in effectively implementing policies and programmes.
An additional issue of population growth, has put additional pressure on resources and infrastructure.
The government often faces criticism for slow response times and inadequate support for affected communities.
Mitigating the risks of rainfed agriculture
Conclusively, experts are of the view that to enhance food security and resilience, the Nigerian government must implement comprehensive strategies. These include:
- Investment in irrigation infrastructure: Expanding irrigation systems can reduce dependence on rainfall and ensure year-round crop production.
- Promoting climate-smart agriculture: Encouraging the adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties, improved soil management practices, and early warning systems.
- Diversification of livelihoods: Supporting farmers in exploring alternative income sources, such as livestock rearing, agroforestry, and off-farm value-addition activities.
- Research and extension services: Investing in agricultural research to develop innovative solutions and effectively transferring knowledge to farmers.
Generally, stakeholders hope that by implementing these measures, Nigeria can build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. This will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to the vagaries of rainfed agriculture.
