Nigerian Rice Farmers Fight Floods with Climate-Smart Practices

Edozhigi - one of the major rice farming communities in Niger State, suffered severe loss of rice and sugarcane farms in 2022 when floods washed away most of their rice farms which were due for harvesting. After suffering severe losses, the farmers began rice planting earlier, and changed to a variety of seeds that can be harvested within three months of planting.

However, some farmers are not able to engage in early planting due to financial constraints in procuring inputs on time. The farmers are calling on the government to provide subsidised farm inputs to support their farming activities, as the inputs provided by microfinance banks and other organisations often come with high-interest rates that are difficult to repay.

Climate change is having a profound impact on Nigeria's agricultural sector, posing significant challenges for farmers across the country. The country is experiencing more erratic rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events. The need for climate-resilient farming techniques and support systems is crucial to help Nigerian farmers adapt to these changing conditions and safeguard their livelihoods.