Standing under the scorching midday sun in February, Ndubusi Christianah, a 60-year-old peasant farmer in Ile-Ife, southwestern Nigeria, wiped beads of sweat off her forehead. The heat was nothing new—she had long grown accustomed to it. In fact, at this time of the year, the sun was a silent reminder that the time had come to clear the weeds in her farm in preparation for the March rains.
“In this dry season, every farmer is preparing for planting. Because this is the dry season, this is the best time to clear so they will dry very well,” she explained.
Yet, in recent years, something has changed. The once predictable seasonal cycle that had guided her farming for decades had become erratic, leaving her and millions of farmers across Nigeria struggling to adapt.
-Christianah pointing to her farmland.
Farmers Who Feed Nigeria, Yet Struggle the Most
Nigeria’s smallholder farmers, like Christianah, grow 90% of the country’s food. Yet, despite their central role in the country’s food chain, they are the least prepared and most vulnerable to the threats climate change poses.
“Formerly, before March, there used to be much heat before rain would start falling in late March,”Christianah explained. However, last year, “it started in early March, and it fell, and it stopped in early April.”
This subtle change meant that Christianah, who ordinarily began clearing her farmlands in late February ahead of the rainy season she expected later in March, was caught unawares. She did not start planting early, and when she was done clearing and ready to plant, the rains had ceased, preventing her from going ahead with cultivation.
Changing Seasons, Failed Crops, Lost Livelihoods.
Traditionally, farmers in Nigeria have relied on seasonal patterns to plan their farming activities. In southwestern Nigeria, the wet season, typically running from April to October, allows for multiple cropping seasons, with most farmers planting staple crops like maize, yam, and vegetables. The dry season, spanning November to March, is usually a time for leaving the land to fallow and recover its nutrients.
However, climate change has disrupted these once-reliable patterns. Rising global temperatures are degrading soil quality, making fertile land less productive. Warmer temperatures are also increasing the incidence of pests, such as armyworms that destroy maize plants. Unpredictable rainfall patterns are disrupting planting schedules, leaving farmers in a quandary.
On one occasion, when Christianah decided to go on planting after the rains stopped temporarily, the consequences were disastrous. On one of her farmlands, which she described as very dry, she explained: “Where I wanted to plant on campus when the rain stopped, I couldn’t plant again because I couldn’t meet up by that early March.”
So as not to lose that period altogether, she pressed on and planted some corn, vegetables, and okra but suffered heavy losses as none of the corn germinated. With dejection, she explained: “I planted them in mid-March. But the corn dried off. Some of the vegetables that had much strength did not die. But those that did not have much strength, like ‘Shoko’ died.”
Unfortunately, Christianah’s experience is one of many. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as the devastating floods of 2022 that destroyed 440,000 hectares of farmland, is heavily impacting food security in the country. However, with reduced crop yield due to climate change, Nigeria’s food crisis is expected to worsen. As of 2024, over 31.8 million Nigerians were suffering from acute food insecurity, with climate change being one of the major drivers. Experts predict this number could rise by two million in 2025 without urgent action.
Potential Solutions and the Challenge of Access
Despite these challenges, there are potential solutions to help farmers adapt. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) recommends that farmers adhere strictly to predicted rain onset days, plant drought-resistant and early-maturing crop varieties in regions experiencing delayed rains, implement water conservation methods in areas prone to dry spells, refrain from applying fertilizers before the rains to prevent leaching, and employ shading techniques alongside mulching to shield crops from extreme heat.
However, many of these solutions are not readily available and accessible to these farmers. For instance, despite the fact that the planting season is already beginning for the year,
Chritanah is still unaware of the NiMET Seasonal Crop Prediction (SCP) for 2025. Her lack of access to reliable weather information leaves her in a dilemma—if she clears the farm too early, weeds might take over if the rains delay. If she waits too long, the rains might come unexpectedly, catching her off guard.
While the government occasionally provides training and lectures, these interventions are inconsistent and sparse. Christianah told EcoPivot that even when the government distributes fertilizers and seedlings, corruption often robs farmers of these benefits. “Last year, they gave us two bags of fertilizer,” she said. “But could you believe they gave us only two congos? Those people on top, they sold it.”
–Water stream which Christianah leverages for her farmland during the dry season
Experts Weigh In: Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Speaking with EcoPivot, Abayomi Abideen, manager of the OAU School Farm, explained that climate-mediated disruptions were widespread last year. He noted that irregular rainfall patterns affected his farm as well, resulting in the loss of about three hectares of sweet potato, watermelon, and cucumber.
To adapt, Abayomi has implemented irrigation systems on his farmland and advises smallholder farmers to do the same. However, large-scale irrigation is often costly and unaffordable for peasant farmers, with only 5.4% of Nigerian farmlands currently irrigated. In contrast, small-scale irrigation, which is more affordable, offers a viable alternative according to a reports by The Conversation: “Farmers can decide what technologies to use to extract water, whether manual lifting or solar water pumps, and choose the mode of irrigation, whether by buckets or drip kits,” the report said.
Abayomi also suggested that having a borehole to power drip or sprinkler irrigation could significantly improve water availability for farming.
However, beyond irrigation, increased government support is essential. The OAU School Farm manager acknowledged ongoing efforts by the government but stressed the need for more oversight to ensure that resources reach genuine farmers rather than middlemen. He also called for employing more Agricultural Extension Workers to bridge the gap between farmers and research institutions.