In the village of Kwalkwalawa in Northwestern Nigeria, farmer Umaru Muazu is grappling with a dire water shortage for his crops after two decades of tending his land. Faced with just a small, murky puddle where a flowing river once stood, Muazu, who owns a five-hectare farm in Sokoto state, is on the brink of abandoning his agricultural pursuits. At 62, the challenge of finding water intensifies, as the cost of digging a well remains beyond his means, leaving his millet and maize to wilt under the relentless sun.
The exacerbation of climate change in Nigeria, the most densely populated country on the African continent, is putting immense pressure on agriculture. Prolonged dry spells and increased temperatures are causing water sources to vanish as the traditionally arid season stretches out, often longer than anticipated. Although the wet season promises ample rain, it tends to wrap up quickly. These climatic shifts jeopardize food security in a nation where the World Food Program already reports that 31 million people are food insecure. Attempts to recover from one climate crisis are often interrupted by new challenges, noted a spokesperson from the WFP.
The plight of farmers in the northern region, responsible for much of Nigeriaโs food production, has significant repercussions on food pricing and resources in the rapidly growing southern coastal areas, including Nigeriaโs largest city, Lagos. Over 80% of Nigerian farmers are smallholders, responsible for 90% of the countryโs annual food production. These farmers often rely on rudimentary tools and manual labor, as their access to infrastructure like dams remains limited. Daniel Obiora, head of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, pointed out that inadequate government support in infrastructure development is negatively impacting yields.
There is scant data about the extent of water bodies drying in the north, though farmers report the situation worsening. For instance, in Adamawa state, high temperatures and unpredictable rainfall have deprived over 1,250 hectares of farmland of water, significantly affecting food supplies and local livelihoods, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
Other factors such as over-extraction of water and massive deforestation are intensifying the drought conditions across northern Nigeria, according to Abdulsamad Isah, co-founder of Extension Africa, which often collaborates with regional farmers. Meanwhile, Nasiru Bello in Sokoto state cultivates onions amid uncertainty about a viable yield. As local wells and rivers shrink, he pumps groundwater, incurring steep costs exacerbated by surging fuel prices, just to sustain the farm-dependent income for his large family.
Projections indicate that Nigeriaโs demographic will swell, ranking third globally alongside the US, and just behind India and China, by 2025. By 2050, the population is expected to hit 400 million. In response, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has been promoting climate-smart agricultural techniques like drip irrigation, which conserves water by targeting delivery to crop roots, as opposed to inundating entire fields.
Yusuf Isah Sokoto, director at Sokotoโs Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, emphasized the need for greater farmer education on climate change. Increasing deforestation, which has claimed about two-thirds of Sokotoโs trees, has exacerbated local temperature rises. Despite agricultureโs economic contribution slipping from 25% to 22% of Nigeriaโs GDP in the second quarter of 2024 due to fluctuating trends, experts claim government investment has not significantly boosted agricultural productivity.
The decline in agricultural outputs is evident throughout Nigeria, notably in the south. Lagos has seen food prices nearly double over the past couple of years for several northern-grown staples. For instance, a head of cabbage now sells for 2,000 naira ($1.2), more than double the previous yearโs price, while remaining only marginally priced higher than in Sokoto.
Acknowledging these challenges, Nigeriaโs Agriculture Minister Aliyu Abdullahi stated earlier this year that many former yields have been halved. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and his government have committed to enhancing agriculture to boost economic growth. Having declared a food security emergency shortly after assuming office in May 2023, they announced plans to activate 500,000 hectares in northern land banks, yet these initiatives remain unimplemented.