Farmers across Nigeria are increasingly struggling to irrigate their crops as rivers and other water sources continue to dry up—an impact they attribute to climate change.
According to Africanews, the situation is particularly severe in Sokoto State, where farmers like Nasiru Bello now rely on digging wells and pumping groundwater to sustain their farms. The once-flowing rivers that supported over five hectares of farmland in the Kwalkwalawa community have now vanished, leaving behind cracked earth and shallow puddles.
“All these things are a result of climate change,” Bello told Africanews. “In previous years, rivers didn’t dry up like this. Now, we’re digging wells that still dry up while in use, and the cost of digging new ones is unbearable.”
Another farmer, Umoru Muazu, described a similar plight. “We used to have enough water, but not anymore. Now, we have to dig wells even before the rainy season starts,” he said.
Experts warn the implications go beyond local farmers. Dr. Isa Yusuf-Sokoto, an environmentalist at Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, explained that Sokoto’s semi-arid climate, coupled with widespread deforestation, has worsened desertification and drought. “The drying of rivers and lakes is clearly tied to climate change,” he said. “Without urgent intervention, the region could face food, water, and health crises.”
Nigeria, which is projected to become the world’s third most populous nation by 2050, is already feeling the effects. Food prices are rising across the country, especially in the southern commercial hub of Lagos. According to AFEX, Nigeria’s largest cereal crop, maize, saw a decline in cultivated land from 6.2 million hectares in 2021 to 5.8 million hectares in 2022.
More than 80% of Nigerian farmers are smallholder farmers, responsible for 90% of national food production. But with limited tools and support, many are left to manage with hand tools and fading water resources.
Government data cited by Africanews shows that agriculture contributed 22% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q2 2024, down from 25% the previous quarter, while food imports have reached their highest level in five years.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been advocating for climate-smart agriculture, while the Nigerian government is directing research institutes to find adaptive solutions. However, for farmers like Bello and Muazu, such interventions can’t come soon enough.
