By Quadri Adejumo

Tiamiyu Azeez, 32, a maize farmer in Ibadan, South West Nigeria, begins his day praying for favourable weather that brings a positive result. His fields, once fertile, now tell a different story. 

“The rains don’t come like they used to,” he says, praying to God for moderate rainfall “When they do, it’s either too much or too little. We pray for one that will help our crops.” 

The farmer further described a world in which the old certainties no longer apply. This also comes amid rising inflation and  economic hardship in Nigeria.

“The seasons have shifted. We used to know when to plant and when to harvest. Now, we are just guessing. Even when the sun comes out. Nothing grows properly anymore,” Azeez explained.

Economic instability

Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, his financial reforms have had knock on effects on citizens. As a result of the devaluation of the naira and the high cost of living, Nigerians are now fighting to survive.

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In June, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reported Nigeria’s inflation rate reaching a 28-year high. The nation’s headline rate expanded from 22.8% in June 2023 to 34.2% in June 2024. As a result, the naira’s value against the US dollar fell to an all-time low, with the official exchange rate averaging N1471/US$ in June from N769/US$ in June 2023.

This interruption has been particularly crushing for farmers. With the costs of seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides increasing, the farmers bear the brunt. 

“We can’t afford to buy our fertilisers and seedings any longer. The costs of these things have multiplied,” cries Azeez. “And if you don’t use fertilizer, your yields will not come out well. Every day, it’s a struggle just to keep our crops alive.”

Also, transporting goods to market has become a herculean task, with fuel prices surging after the removal of subsidies. Amid a reoccurring fuel scarcity, some of the independent marketers have hiked prices of fuel as much as N950 per litre.

“The costs of transportation has gone so high, and this exacerbates our business,” Bisi, 52, a vegetable farmer, told our reporter. For some farmers, the expense of dispatching their products offsets the profits from the sale, constraining them to either sell at a loss, or watch their produce rot in the fields.

While Bisi began farming three years ago to cater for his family, the recent economic slump in Nigeria has pressed her livelihood, leaving the widow and mother of four to battle for survival. 

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“I now sell at limited costs because people can’t afford to eat in the country. Hunger has filled the country, eating has now turned into a struggle for people,” she added. “In fact, some of us have left farming to look for a salary paid job. One of us now works as a bank cleaner because she couldn’t rely on the little earnings from farming.”

“Without urgent intervention and the government not coming with real solutions, I fear for the future of farming in this country. We need support, or we will be forced to abandon our farms and seek alternative means to survive. The government needs to do more to support the farmers,” Bisi pleaded.

Climate change

Aside from economic hardship in Nigeria, the country is grappling with a significant climate crisis, including rising temperatures, flooding, and desertification. Reports reveal the Nigerian Meteorological Agency noting the nation has seen a 1.2°C expansion in temperature over the past century, with projections showing a further ascent.

Also, the severity and frequency of flooding have increased, affecting millions of Nigerians. In April, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utserv, presented the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) which showed that 148 LGAs in 31 states fall within the high flood risk.

Desertification is likewise infringing on arable land, affecting agribusiness and livelihoods. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reports that over 65% of Nigeria’s land region is affected by desertification. This impedes the expansion and intensification of agriculture that are required to meet the thriving need for food.

Farmers suffer from these shifts because some of them lack the resources to adapt. “The land is no longer ours. The climate is now defining our activities. During the rainy season, floods wash away our crops. In the dry season, the drought also destroys our farmlands,” Azeez says.

Azeez now has a new farmland he prays to yield good products. As he toured his new farmland, he felt a sense of loss and prayed to recover his loss. 

“We put a lot of money into farming and reap less. The poor weather conditions make it impossible to reap what we sow,” he lamented.

Dada Oluwaseun, an agronomist, shared her contribution and insight on the challenges faced by the Nigerian farmers. 

“As we all know, too much of something is bad, crops suffer damage if the temperature is beyond extreme. Not all crops are created equal. It makes a difference to choose varieties that are suited to your area and known for their drought and heat tolerance.”

Oluwaseun also explained the significance of irrigation and appropriate watering. 

“To preserve the farm from loss, shield your crops with water and try regular irrigation. Regular watering, especially during dry spells is key. Also, think of irrigation as armor against the sun’s heat. Drip irrigation conserves water while delivering it directly to thirsty roots.”

To further minimise losses, the agricultural expert advised farmers to harvest fruits and vegetables during cooler hours and invest in proper storage like ventilated shades or cool rooms to extend the life of their harvest.

The human cost

The United Nations predicts that by 2030, 82 million Nigerians—roughly 64% of the country’s population—may starve to death.

In May 2024, Nigeria’s food inflation rate reached a record high of 40.66 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This surge addresses the largest year-on-year growth in food costs since records started in 1996.

People have voiced their dissatisfaction. Various Nigerians have rioted and protested under the banner of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. Coordinators called for quite a long time of demonstrations to challenge poor administration, corruption and inflating cost of living.

“As a nation, we’ve been used to hardship. But this is different,” Titilayo, a bread-hawking seller, told our reporter. “People are hungry. Things are so costly. To afford a three square meal is now a problem. We’ve been protesting but nothing is changing. I don’t know our offence. We pray to God to come to our rescue. It’s like the world itself is against us.”

In his reaction, Ahmad Bisiru, an agricultural scientist, believes that solutions to the menace require coordinated action. 

“We need investments in climate-resilient agriculture. The government and private sector must work together to create an environment where farming can thrive.”

Bisiriyu argued that without effective measures, various initiatives aimed at supporting farmers, and launch of climate adaptation programs will amount to nothing.