By Faridat Salifu
With the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicting inconsistent rainfall across several states, agriculture experts are urging farmers to adopt irrigated farming to safeguard harvests and improve resilience against climate variability.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday,
Mrs. Chahul Ngizan, Chairperson of Nigerian Women in Agriculture, said changing weather patterns and the absence of last year’s harmattan have left farmers uncertain about planting seasons.
“We really do not know what to expect with the changing weather patterns. When there is no harmattan, it is difficult for farmers to have a good harvest,” Ngizan said.
She advised farmers to follow NiMet’s guidance or invest in irrigation systems, though she noted that access to water is limited in some northern areas.
Agriculture analyst and co-founder of Corporate Farmers, Mr. Akin Alabi, also stressed the importance of irrigation, noting that unpredictable rainfall makes traditional reliance on rain risky.
“NiMet will provide forecasts, but weather is ultimately controlled by nature. Farmers need to be prepared with some form of irrigation on their farms,” he said.
Alabi highlighted solar-powered irrigation systems as an affordable and sustainable option. “Farmers can also dig wells to ensure water availability. Investing in irrigation might be costly, but it is worth it to secure crops against unpredictable weather,” he added.
Experts warn that with climate change intensifying, standby irrigation systems are becoming essential for all farmers, regardless of region, to protect productivity and ensure food security
