News in brief:
– A Nigerian farmer lost his maize crop to drought after early rains stopped unexpectedly.
– This highlights the risk of rain-fed farming in a changing climate, where climate change insurance could offer vital financial protection.
A Nigerian farmer has lamented the loss of hectares of maize in Ogun State to drought. He shared pictures of the dried plants on social media, warning other farmers about the dangers of off-season planting.
Earlier in November, he had shown the flourishing farm to his followers. “Same late maize farm today! It’s Tasseling already!” the joyful farmer had said.
However, the rains soon stopped coming and the early drought sun shrunk the crops beyond revival. He also confirmed that he had not set up an artificial irrigation system to provide water to his farm.
Rain left unannounced 📢 and never come back. pic.twitter.com/9lhfwWyxSF
— Chukwunonso (Farmer) (@FirstKingEntert) November 25, 2024
The farmer advised that others should consider drought-resistant crops like cassava if they want to plant during the dry season and lack irrigation facilities.
Rain-fed farming danger and climate change insurance
Rain-fed farming, heavily reliant on unpredictable rainfall patterns, faces significant risks due to climate change. Erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods can devastate crops, leaving farmers vulnerable to financial ruin and food insecurity. These extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, posing a severe threat to the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide.
Climate change insurance offers a potential solution to mitigate these risks. By providing financial protection against crop losses caused by adverse weather conditions, insurance can help farmers recover from setbacks and invest in resilient farming practices. However, access to affordable and effective insurance remains a challenge for many smallholder farmers, particularly in developing countries.
To address this issue, the Nigerian government, under Tinubu, aimed to position the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc.) to insure farms.
