Farmers in the Northern part of Nigeria are currently struggling with the harsh effects of the dry season and banditry, affecting national food security.
Some pictures sourced from Premium Times show that the environmental situation could be a root factor that pushes the herdsmen southwards to the sub-humid Middle Belt.
The environmental situation becomes even more severe during the dry season and when the herders migrate southwards, they compete for scarce resources with settled farmers.
Read also: 4 parks sealed off, 12 arrested over COVID-19 protocols violation
In Jibia, Katsina State, sitting on the Nigerian border with Niger Republic, desert-like conditions are affecting vast swathes of land.
Locals, including farmers and herders said the desertification is expanding by the year, causing losses of fertile land for agriculture and pasture for cattle grazing.
The effects are threat to food security, and national security, following scarcity of resources required to sustain life and migration of the herders for pasture in the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria.
Speaking with a herder, Mohammed, said that the harsh environmental condition has frustrated him as the dry season takes effect.
He says his family would soon move southwards for pasture. ‘’The farmland behind him is failing. This is the dry season of 2020 in Jibia, Katsina State,’’ he said.
Another farmer in Sokoto said that he would be moving to Benue State, Middle Belt Nigeria, for pasture as the grazing field in Goronyo, Sokoto State offers adequate resources to feed cattle.
He said that Benue promises greater resources for grazing.