Climate change is wreaking havoc on Nigeria’s agricultural sector, leaving farmers like Umaru Muazu in a desperate situation. For 20 years, Muazu has worked his 5-hectare farm in northwestern Nigeria, but now he’s struggling to find water for his crops. A murky puddle is all that remains of the river near his farm and those of others in the community.
Muazu can’t afford to dig a well to keep crops like millet and maize from withering. This has left him with a difficult decision: abandon farming altogether. Climate change is making it increasingly challenging for agriculture in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
Challenges Faced by Farmers
- Long Dry Spells: Extended periods of drought and extreme heat are drying up water bodies, leading to longer arid seasons.
- Short Wet Seasons: While the wet season may bring excessive rain, it is often short-lived.
- Overlapping Climate Shocks: "Efforts to recover from one climate shock are overlapped by the next," said WFP spokesperson Chi Lael.
The challenges faced by farmers in the north are affecting food prices and availability in the booming coastal south, home to megacity Lagos. Most of what Nigeria eats comes from these northern farmers, who account for 90% of annual agricultural production.
The Struggles of Smallholder Farmers
Smallholder farmers make up more than 80% of Nigeria’s farmers, but they work their fields with little more than basic tools and their bare hands. Nasiru Bello tilled his farm without assurance of sufficient rainfall during planting or harvesting times.
With nearby rivers and wells drying up due to climate change, Bello has resorted to pumping groundwater for an onion crop that provides the sole income for his family of twenty-six. However, this method has become increasingly difficult due to soaring gas prices. "The plants do not grow well as they used to," he lamented.
Future Projections
According to recent UN estimates, Nigeria will soon join India and China as the third most populous country in the world. By mid-century, it is projected to reach four hundred million residents, making it the third largest nation globally, behind India and China.
Solutions and Initiatives
The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) encourages countries hit hard by droughts, like Nigeria, through initiatives such as:
- Drip Irrigation: This method delivers water slowly directly into the roots, helping conserve precious resources compared to traditional methods that flood entire fields, leading to wastage.
Conclusion
Deforestation significantly contributes to the challenges faced by farmers. Dr. Yusuf Isah Sokoto, Director of the College of Environmental Science at Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic in North West State, highlights that farming has become increasingly difficult due to climate change and government policies that have failed to support small-scale farmers. These farmers grow most of the crops consumed nationally, including rice, yams, potatoes, and plantains.
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