From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A devastating mix of delayed rains and sudden dry spells is crippling the current planting season across Nigeria, sparking urgent warnings from agricultural experts that the nation must aggressively adopt climate-smart agriculture to avert a looming food security crisis.
Traditionally, rural farmers rely on the predictable arrival of seasonal rains to clear lands and sow seeds. This year, however, erratic weather patterns driven by climate change have thrown traditional farming calendars into chaos.
According to Ibrahima Yakubu, a prominent science journalist and Head of Communication and Strategies for African Climate Reporters, the environmental shift is hitting farmers hard.
Areas are experiencing brief, intense downpours only to be followed by weeks of absolute drought, leaving crops parched and farmers bewildered.
The impact on essential staple crops is already evident, as crops are failing to sprout or are drying up shortly after germination due to lack of sustained moisture.
Farmers are being forced to replant multiple times, drastically driving up production costs while lowering expected yields.
Diminishing water sources and scorching temperatures have led to a sharp decline in fresh pasture, threatening cattle and rural livelihoods.
“This year’s unstable rainfall is creating serious difficulties for farmers and threatening food production,” Ibrahima Yakubu, African Climate Reporters stated.
With rising temperatures continuing to disrupt historical weather patterns, experts argue that traditional rain-dependent farming is no longer viable.
The solution, according to them,, lies in a swift transition to modernized, resilient agricultural practices.
