Once the dry season sets in, many farmers in rural areas face daunting challenges on how to keep their crops alive and thriving in the scorching heat; BLESSING OKOLA reports.
As the dry season continues to pose significant challenges to farmers across Nigeria, many are turning to innovative strategies to ensure their survival and success.
According to an expert, Engr. Omole Adetunji, farmers are adopting a range of techniques to cope with the dry conditions, including drip irrigation, mulching, conservation agriculture, crop diversification, livestock integration, and climate-smart agriculture.
In an interview with Musa Ibrahim, a farmer from Kashi Village, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), he said there have been significant improvements in his crop yields since he adopted drip irrigation.
According to him, “drip irrigation has been a game-changer for me, I’ve been able to reduce my water usage by over 50% and increase my yields by 20%.”
He said he planted some green vegetables, adding that he adapted the mulching technique to conserve water and reduce high soil temperatures.
“Mulching is a simple yet effective way to retain moisture in the soil, reduce evaporation and promote healthy plant growth,” he said, noting that by applying a layer of organic material, such as straw, grass, or wood chips, to the soil surface, farmers can retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperatures.
Also, Fatima Mohammed, a farmer from Gwagwalada, said crop diversification is a strategy being used by farmers to spread risk and increase resilience. “By planting a variety of crops, I can reduce my dependence on a single crop and increase my chances of success,” she said.
As the dry season continues to pose challenges to farmers, it is clear that innovative strategies and techniques will be vital for their survival and success. By adopting these approaches, farmers can improve their resilience, increase their productivity, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.
Ali Hussaini who lives in Kashi, Federal Capital Territory, said he has been cultivating his land for over two decades and despite the harsh weather conditions, he learned to adapt and innovate, using traditional techniques passed down from his ancestors, combined with modern methods learned through training and experimentation.
Hussani said, “I’ve learned to listen to the land, as he surveys his lush green farm, teeming with vegetables, fruits, and grains. “The dry season may be challenging, but it’s also a time of great opportunity. With the right techniques and strategies, farmers can not only survive but thrive.”
He added that one of the key strategies he employs is drip irrigation, a method that delivers water directly to the roots of the plants, reducing evaporation and run-offs. This technique, combined with mulching and crop rotation, he said, enabled him to maintain a healthy and productive farm, even in the driest of seasons.
Resilience, determination
Despite its many successes, dry season farming is not without its challenges. Farmers face numerous risks, from crop failures to livestock diseases, and the consequences of a bad season can be devastating.
But for farmers like Hussani, the dry season is not just a time of hardship, but also a testament to their resilience and determination. As he looks out over his thriving farm, Hussani smiles, his eyes shining with pride.
“The dry season may be tough,” he says, “but we farmers are tougher. We’ve learned to adapt, to innovate, and to thrive, even in the most challenging of conditions.”
Brighter future
As the dry season slowly gives way to the rains, farmers like Musa are already looking to the future, planning and preparing for the next season’s challenges and opportunities.
With their ingenuity, resilience, and determination, these farmers are not only ensuring their own survival, but are also contributing to a more sustainable and food-secure future for their communities and the nation.
Recently, the FCT Special Agro-Industrial processing zone project (SAPZ) under the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat took a significant step towards promoting efficient water use and irrigation practices among farmers by training 30 farmers on efficient water use, irrigation, and water-saving techniques.
The Agric Productivity Officer, APO SAPZ, Haruna Maisamari Umar, during the training in Kashi, disclosed that SAPZ aims to enhance agricultural productivity.
He said the training programme “is crucial, especially in dry season where water scarcity is a significant challenge.” According to him, by equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to optimise water use, SAPZ is contributing to Improving crop yields and quality, reduced water waste and conservation, enhanced resilience to climate change and drought, and increased food security and livelihoods for farmers and their communities.
He said by empowering farmers with these techniques, SAPZ is helping to ensure a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector.
Umar said further that SAPZ project is part of the Feed Africa Strategy launched by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to transform agriculture into globally competitive, inclusive and business oriented sector that will create wealth, generate gainful employment and improves quality of life.
“This programme promotes increased productivity, value addition, market access and private sector investment in select agricultural value-chain commodities. The focus is on the promotion of commodities that have a high potential to boost export revenues or import substitution,” he said.
Also, the facilitator, Engineering and Rural Infrastructure, FCT-ADP, Engr. Ale Lukman Onitekun, said some of the efficient water use and irrigation techniques that farmers may have learned during the training include “drip irrigation and sprinkler systems, mulching and soil conservation methods, crop selection and rotation for optimal water use and precision irrigation and soil moisture monitoring.”
According to him, SAPZ has taken a significant step towards promoting efficient water use and irrigation practices among farmers.
He noted that the training “is apt and will promote increased productivity, value-addition, market access and private sector investment in selected agricultural value-chain commodities.”
One of the participants, Shekolo Madaki, said they had a very positive experience with the training and was excited to apply the new skills and knowledge he gained.
He urged that the training should be networking, connecting with other farmers and communities to share knowledge and best practices.
He also urged the government to replicate the training in other communities to engage more youth and promote employment.
Also, Mr. Hussaini said farmer’s enthusiasm and willingness to share their knowledge with others were great indicators of the training’s success. By empowering farmers like him, the training can have a ripple effect, positively impacting not only individual farmers, but also their communities and the broader agriculture sector.
